The Fife Dementia Strategy: 2010 – 2020 - The Knowledge Network

ecognise the symptoms and specific needs of people with dementia, how to
communicate effectively with people with dementia, and what services are
available to help should they have a concern. Groups such as receptionist
staff, public transport providers, post office workers, pharmacy workers and
older peoples groups are amongst those which will be included in targeted
campaigns.
Campaigns targeting schools will be developed to promote inclusion,
involvement and knowledge about health. Such efforts will also provide future
benefits in reducing ageism, recognising dementia, and reducing negative
stigma towards people with dementia.
3.3 Increased dementia awareness and skill among health and social
care professionals and practitioners, including team leaders and
managers who must support their staff to provide person centred care.
Fife Council and NHS Fife have both taken a proactive approach to
developing workforce knowledge surrounding dementia care. Each
organisation has funded a number of individuals to attend post-graduate and
professional courses at the Dementia Services Development Centre at the
University of Stirling and other providers. However, despite this positive shift
in dementia learning and development not enough is being done to encourage
knowledge transfer, leaving many staff working in services directly responsible
for providing care and support to people with poor dementia awareness and
skill. A lack of understanding of dementia and dementia services in Fife may
lead to stigma, under diagnosis, under treatment, provision of inappropriate
care/services and service users feeling as if they are being passed from pillar
to post. Staff may struggle to understand and cope with the behavioural and
cognitive symptoms of dementia which can be negatively reflected in their
attitude and practices.
All staff in all organisations who work with adults and older people in Fife must
be informed and educated in a manner which allows them to understand,
effectively communicate, and provide a person-centred service for the person
with dementia and their carers. As a minimum, dementia awareness should
be included in all induction training for employees within the NHS, Council and
partner organisations working with adults and older people, and more specific
information and advanced training provided to those who provide care and
services for older people or adults. Learning opportunities must be ongoing as
a part of personal and professional development in Social Work, Health,
Housing and Emergency Services. Research shows that opportunities for
ongoing training and development for staff are linked with higher job
commitment and employee retention, and that staff training on dementia care
can affect their personal well-being 12 .
All individuals and clinicians in Fife who may be responsible for identifying a
12 Zimmerman S, Williams CS, Reed PS, Boustani M, Pressier JS, Heck E & Sloane PD
(2005). Attitudes, stress and satisfaction of staff who care for residents with dementia. The
Gerontologist. 45(SI 1): 96-105.
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