Advanced Dementia Practice Model

Alzheimer Scotland’s Advanced Dementia Practice Model sets out an integrated and comprehensive approach to providing care and support for people with advanced dementia and at end of life with dementia. It combines the skill and understanding of the existing 8 Pillars Team (particularly the Dementia Practice Coordinator), as described in our 8 Pillars Model of Community Support (link) and introduces an Advanced Dementia Specialist Team to provide optimum care.

As the life expectancy of people in Scotland increases, more people will experience dementia and the proportion of people dying with dementia will also grow. Advanced dementia presents the most complex phase of the illness and needs a coordinated and planned approach to care.

The Advanced Dementia Practice Model promotes the wellbeing and quality of life of both the person with advanced dementia and those closest to them. It also provides the essential support to care homes and those providing day-to-day care.

From the point of diagnosis to the end of life, every person with dementia and their family deserve the best care we have at our disposal. To achieve this we must change our current practice and transform our system. The Advanced Dementia Practice Model provides the key to the best possible care in advanced dementia and at end of life.

The Advanced Dementia Practice Model is one of a series of evidence based models which describe what is needed to transform care and support for people with dementia in Scotland.  Each of these models was developed by Alzheimer Scotland alongside people living with dementia, their families and carers, and health and social care professionals.  Each model describes how Alzheimer Scotland’s vision for change can be put into practice.

Skilled, coordinated, timely, integrated care as described in these models is a far too rare experience for people with dementia and their families in Scotland, and we are campaigning alongside people with dementia, their families and carers to change this.  If you would like to work with us to help achieve transformational change for people living with dementia in Scotland, please click here or email [email protected]