| CODE | GER5110 | ||||||
| TITLE | Advances in Dementia Management | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | Not Applicable | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Gerontology and Dementia Studies | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will explore the different aspects involved in managing and caring for an individual with dementia. It will examine the various kinds of caring situations and approaches that can be utilized in providing the best support to these individuals, both in formal and informal setting. It will include the different approaches used for managing challenging behaviour depending on dementia type and setting, integrated pathways of care, dementia-friendly design and assistive technologies, and policy development. Study-unit Aims: This unit aims to offer students knowledge on the different aspects involved in the management and caring for individuals with dementia while also keeping in view the changing demographics. The projected increase in the ageing population will ensure that the number of individuals with dementia will almost double whereas the number of relatives taking a main care-giving role will decrease. This will most likely cause a shift from community to residential/nursing care support. Dementia management and care also depend on factors such as dementia type and severity. With disease progression, individuals with dementia would become more dependent on professional support services with the latter being currently lacking. It is therefore important to address this shortcoming by preparing future health and social care professionals in the delivery of high quality dementia management and care in order to face this growing challenge. Although some of the topics discussed in this study unit would possibly be mentioned in other units, the aim is to discuss these from a policy development perspective in line with the recent launch of the National Strategy for Dementia in the Maltese Islands (2015-2023). Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - classify different models of caring for individuals with dementia; - recognise the importance of integrated care pathways; - describe the challenges caregivers of individuals with dementia face; - illustrate the emerging technologies aimed at enhancing the quality of life of individuals with dementia; - consolidate knowledge towards the development of dementia care policy. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - analyse and examine research literature on the topics covered in the study unit; - explain how appropriate management and care skills have a positive impact on the quality of life of individuals with dementia; - apply the knowledge gained to formulate different care pathway models for people with dementia; - relate with caregivers of individuals with dementia. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main texts: - Bourgeois M. S. and Hickey E. (2009). Dementia: from diagnosis to management - a functional approach. Taylor and Francis. - Downs M. and Bowers B. J. (Eds) (2014). Excellence in dementia care: research into practice. Open University Press. McGraw-Hill Publications. - May H. and Edwards P. (2009). Enriched care planning for people with dementia: A good practice guide for delivering person-centred care. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Supplementary reading: - Burns A. (Ed) (2005). Standards in dementia care. CRC Press. - Innes A. and McCabe L (Eds) (2006). Evaluation in dementia care. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. - Innes A. (2000). Training and development for dementia care workers. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. - Scerri C. (2015). Empowering change: A National Strategy for Dementia in the Maltese Islands (2015-2023). Parliamentary Secretariat for the Rights of persons with Disability and Active Ageing, Valletta, Malta. - Samsi K. and Manthrope J. (2014). Care pathways for dementia: Current perspectives. Cinical Interventions in Aging, Nov 27;9:2055-63. - Prince M. J., Wu F., Guo Y., Gutierrez Robledo L. M., O'Donnell M., Sullivan R., Yusuf S. (2014). The burden of disease in older people and implications for health policy and practice. Lancet. 2014 Nov 6. pii: S0140-6736(14)61347-7. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Peter Ferry Charles Scerri (Co-ord.) |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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