Dementia : creating a knowledge-based healthcare profession

Abstract

The changing demographics favouring the progressive increase in the elderly population worldwide will invariably lead to an increase in the number of individuals with dementia with the consequence of putting greater demands on healthcare professionals who are at the forefront in providing the necessary formal care to these individuals. Moreover, there are concerns on whether such a workforce possess the necessary skills and knowledge to offer the required advice and care that individuals with dementia need in order to enhance their quality of life. Growing literature suggest that lack of an appropriate level of knowledge on risk factors among the general public and healthcare professionals alike in the various forms of dementia may negatively impact on prevention promotion strategies aimed at reducing current and future dementia incidence rates.