Dementia Palliare’: a new positive practice approach to advanced dementia care

Advanced dementia can last many months or years. During this time, people with dementia and their family need to be supported by a qualified and confident care workforce, who are both evidence informed and supported to continually develop their practice. Workforce training, commitment to good quality continuing care and services for people living with dementia are World Health Organisation priorities. However, the reality is that research and training on advanced dementia is scarce, and focus on terminal stages and dying rather than on living well with advanced dementia. This highlights the importance, in the face of the rising incidence of dementia, for accessible education on advanced dementia, making use of modern technology, communication and networking to support learning in a virtual environment. The purpose is to present an overview of a European Union Erasmus + funded project, ‘Dementia Palliare’ which ran from September 2014 to 2016 and involved a partnership of seven European countries. Key findings from the literature review, in-depth case studies on the experience of advanced dementia care in the seven countries and an educational gap analysis will be presented. These activities informed the preparation of a European Best Practice Statement that provides a basis for professional to develop and improve advanced dementia care. ‘Dementia Palliare’ is a new positive practice approach for supporting individuals to live the best life possible and to sustain family caring. The online Community of Practice, which is a virtual space for professionals to share and learn from one another and the four modules on advanced dementia care will be presented. Each has the potential to equip qualified practitioners, such as doctors, nurses, allied health and social care professionals to champion change and achieve the delivery of best advanced dementia practice based on the
Dementia Palliare approach.