First Dementia MasterClass

by Sarah GillettThis blog is an extract from an article published in the journal of Advances in Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation on 15 April 2016There are around 80,000 people with dementia in the UK and the numbers of people affected is expected to double by 2040 with economic costs likely to treble from the current estimated costs of £26 billion a year (Alzheimer’s Society 2014).The North West of England has approximately 89,000 people affected with dementia, the second highest in the country, with projected increases of more than 101,000 people in the region by 2021 (Alzheimer’s Society 2014). Within care homes one in three adults die from dementia with the majority living in care homes at the time of their death.With these statistics there is, without doubt, a real need to ensure the workforce is appropriately educated to manage the demands of this rising health problem and this has prompted the development of the Dementia Academy and dementia masterclasses through the existing Neurology Academy. This innovative programme builds on 14 years of success in Parkinson’s disease education and extends this widely acclaimed and unique model of education to an area that is impacting significantly on health and social care services.Spearheaded by Dr Ira Leroi, Clinical Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in Psychiatry, University of Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health, Sue Thomas, Chief Executive of NHiS Commissioning Excellence and Tony Burch GP Trainer London, Manchester is an appropriate place to launch the Dementia Academy and first dementia MasterClass. The aim of the Dementia Academy is to increase awareness, provide training opportunities and ensure competence for clinicians working with people who will have or develop dementia. The first meeting held on 2 March focused principally on GPs and provided education on how to diagnose, treat and manage dementia from ‘forgetting my keys’ to advanced care needs. Throughout the day, Sue Thomas collated information on the dementia pathway process as one of the main outputs for the meeting will be an interactive integrated dementia pathway.The next meeting will be for secondary care clinicians to gain education on holistic dementia management as well as contributing to elements of the integrated care pathway. To participate in further meetings visit the Dementia Academy webpage or access presentations and reports from the meeting on the Dementia Resources page.Read the full article in the ACNR journal