Toolkit to improve health outcomes
A toolkit to improve support and health outcomes for people living with dementia and stroke, or coronary heart disease, has been designed for community care workers, as well as the person living with the diagnosis.
Alzheimer’s Australia Vic has partnered with the National Stroke Foundation and the Heart Foundation to develop the Dementia and Stroke or Coronary Heart Disease Toolkit.
A combination of dementia and stroke or coronary heart disease can result in a unique set of challenges for people living with these conditions and their carers.
All three conditions have similar risk factors meaning it is not uncommon for a person to be living with more than one of these.
Dr David Sykes, Alzheimer’s Vic general manager learning and development, says it is important that anybody caring for a person living with dementia and stroke or coronary heart disease knows what to look for.
“A person with dementia may have trouble telling you about the pain associated with a separate condition. They may have issues around remembering to take their medication, issues with physical activity and are more likely to develop depression or anxiety,” Dr Sykes says.
Information on the causes, symptoms and strategies for managing the conditions, is accompanied by several case studies and three specially produced educational videos.
The toolkit aims to explain the warning signs that may be experienced and the importance of calling ‘triple zero’ when they occur.
Dr Sykes claims acknowledgement and awareness of the link between these conditions is critical to providing the best possible care.
“We urge anybody living with these chronic conditions and the people that care for them to use this resource. This information allows people to understand how to effectively lower the risk or to manage the conditions,” he says.
Dr Erin Lalor, National Stroke Foundation chief executive, says the toolkit brings together vital information that is easy to understand in one convenient location.
“Those impacted deserve to live the best quality life; their friends, families and even paid carers all want to help enable those impacted to do this. For that, they need information,” Dr Lalor says.
The Dementia and Stroke or Coronary Heart Disease Toolkit is the third in a series of toolkits known as the Dementia and Chronic Conditions Series, funded by the federal and Victorian governments under the Home & Community Care (HACC) program.
Access the Dementia and Stroke or Coronary Heart Disease Toolkit for Community Care Workers.
