Coaching and mentoring is integral to the Dementia Support Australia team, assisting staff to understand and implement strategies and recommendations for supporting changes in behaviours, provided by the Dementia Consultants.
The Dementia Support Coaches (DSC) are a part of the Dementia Support Australia response to referrals. During the referral process your DSA consultant will determine whether a DSC can provide additional support. The DSC team help staff to use the recommendations from the Dementia Consultant to tailor the care for the individual, promote enabling choice for the person with dementia by assisting with engagement activities, and help staff to understand the benefits of these strategies to the person’s wellbeing. Our Dementia Support Coaches have supported hundreds of clients with dementia in the community including a family whose two sons are living with childhood dementia.
The Dementia Support Coaches will coach staff over different days by providing brief tutorials, to one or two staff at a time, explaining the concepts and strategies recommended by the DSA consultant. This on-site ‘coaching and modelling’ method reinforces staff understanding and transfers knowledge into action.
To provide ongoing support following their visit, we can create a basic graphic design tool or ‘poster’ which provides simple, tangible strategies at a glance. And is easily read and understood by time poor staff, including culturally and linguistically diverse staff.
Example of the team providing support and positive outcomes for staff and a person with dementia.
A male client with Alzheimer's disease living in a Memory Support Unit required full assistance with personal care and was on a trajectory for comfort care when referred to DSA. The client was agitated and attempted to strike staff, leading the referrer to consider admission to a Specialised Dementia Care Unit.
The DSA Consultant identified over-stimulation, carer approach, complexity of tasks, and underlying pain as contributing factors. Over few days, the team coached staff and introduced simple strategies such as providing a quiet area for the client, modifying and simplifying personal care, and offering choices such as where to eat his meals. We also introduced magazines, a harmonica, and a music player preloaded with music of the client’s choice. The client became more settled, with less aggression and agitation reported.