Quality Statement 5: Education and Training for People Living With Dementia and Their Caregivers

Resources Quality Statements Advisory Committee About

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.

Background

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.

What This Quality Statement Means

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.

Quality Indicators

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

Definitions Used Within This Quality Statement

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.

Evidence to Improve Care