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Evidence to Improve Care

Dementia

Care for People Living in the Community

Click below to see a list of brief quality statements and scroll down for more information.


Quality standards are sets of concise statements designed to help health care professionals easily and quickly know what care to provide, based on the best evidence.

See below for the quality statements and click for more detail.

Quality Statement 1: Comprehensive Assessment and Diagnosis
People suspected to have mild cognitive impairment or dementia receive a comprehensive assessment when signs are first identified. If diagnosed with either condition, they are then reassessed on a regular basis or when there is a significant change in their condition.

Quality Statement 2: Interprofessional Care Team
People living with dementia have access to community-based dementia care from an interprofessional team with expertise in dementia care, of which the person living with dementia and their caregivers are integral team members.

Quality Statement 3: Individualized Care Plan
People living with dementia have an individualized care plan that guides their care. The plan identifies their individual needs, those of their caregivers, and goals of care. The plan is reviewed and updated on a regular basis, including documentation of changing needs and goals and the person’s response to interventions.

Quality Statement 4: Named Point of Contact
People living with dementia and their caregivers have one or more named providers on the interprofessional care team who serve as a point of contact to facilitate care coordination and transitions across settings.

Quality Statement 5: Education and Training for People Living With Dementia and Their Caregivers
People living with dementia and their caregivers have access to education and training on dementia and available support services.

Quality Statement 6: Education and Training for Health Care Providers
Health care providers delivering care and services to people living with dementia receive education and training in dementia care.

Quality Statement 7: Access to Support Services
People living with dementia and their caregivers have access to support services that are individualized and meet their ongoing goals and needs.

Quality Statement 8: Caregiver Assessment and Support
Caregivers of people living with dementia are assessed on an ongoing basis and offered supports to address their individual needs.

Quality Statement 9: Safe Living Environment
People living with dementia have access to a safe living environment that meets their specific needs, including design modifications and a range of housing options.

Quality Statement 10: Access to Primary Care
People living with mild cognitive impairment or dementia have regular visits with a primary care physician or nurse practitioner who provides effective primary care that meets both their general health care needs and their specific needs related to cognitive impairment or dementia.

5

Education and Training for People Living With Dementia and Their Caregivers

People living with dementia and their caregivers have access to education and training on dementia and available support services.


Dementia is a complex condition that has a substantial impact on the lives of people living with dementia as well as their caregivers and families. Providing evidence-based education and training to help people better understand dementia, its progression, treatment options, and available supports can enable them to make informed decisions about their care and plan for the future. Information should be provided throughout the care journey and align with the person’s stage of dementia and their evolving needs.

For People Living With Dementia and Their Caregivers

Your health care team should provide you and your caregivers with education and training about living with dementia. Your care team can also connect you with groups or organizations in the community who offer education and support. This education will help you understand dementia and how it progresses, your treatment options, and the supports available.


For Clinicians

Offer education and training to people living with dementia and their caregivers. This should align with the person’s stage of dementia and their current needs.


For Health Services

Ensure that providers and teams are able to offer education and training on dementia and available support services to people living with dementia and their caregivers.

Process Indicators

Percentage of people living with dementia who receive education and training on dementia and available support services

  • Denominator: number of people living with dementia
  • Numerator: number of people in the denominator who receive education and training on dementia and available support services
  • Data source: local data collection

Percentage of caregivers of people living with dementia who receive education and training on dementia and available support services

  • Denominator: number of caregivers of people living with dementia
  • Numerator: number of people in the denominator who receive education and training on dementia and available support services
  • Data source: local data collection
Structural Indicator

Local availability of education and training on dementia for people living with dementia and their caregivers

Education and training

Education and training should include, at a minimum, the following information and skills:

  • Dementia types, signs and symptoms, prognosis, and details of disease progression
  • Care plan strategy and monitoring
  • Self-care strategies for both people living with dementia and for their caregivers
  • Benefits and risks of nonpharmacological and pharmacological treatment options
  • Medication management strategies and aids (e.g., medication reconciliation, dose reminders, marked pillbox)
  • Causes of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia
  • Detection of behavioural risks and techniques for de-escalation and management
  • Adaptive communication skills
  • Functions of different providers and health care settings
  • Medical-legal issues, including driving
  • Financial and legal planning for the person’s eventual incapacity, including "Power of Attorney for Personal Care" and "Continuing Power of Attorney for Property"
  • Requirement for informed consent
  • Advance care planning and the role of the substitute decision-maker
  • Processes to resolve disagreement around the person’s care
  • Available support services and groups and how to access them, including both locally available services and supports available online
  • Sources of financial and legal advice and advocacy

Information should be provided in verbal, printed, and/or multimedia formats.

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