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

services. This should be done once improvements to training, assessments
and diagnostic processes have been made, and a the patient pathway (4.2.1)
has been implemented.
The Dementia Advisor can function as a single and ongoing point of support
and information in accordance with national guidelines 26 by assisting
individuals through signposting and empowering individuals to seek out
information and develop local networks of support. They will ensure people
with dementia and their carers receive information in a coordinated and
effective manner using an information pathway (4.2.1). The Dementia Advisor
will work with people affected by dementia directly following a diagnosis to
empower them, providing them with the information and support.
The Dementia Advisor will work to increase the awareness and knowledge of
local service providers, as there are many useful services available for people
with dementia in Fife, however, knowledge of available services and how to
access them is extremely variable. This is an important role for people with
dementia and their carers who “experience referral to successive
professionals and care settings, [leading to] insufficient clarity regarding
professional roles in information giving” 27 , and a lack of ongoing support.
Although it is recognised that there is a role for such advisors now, there is a
wide range of ongoing and new developments which will affect the potential
role of Dementia Advisors in Fife.
At the time this Strategy was written Alzheimer Scotland was in the process of
developing such a post in the North East of Fife, and may expand the service.
In England a number of Dementia Advisor models are currently being trialled
and will be evaluated in 2010/11. It is thus recommended that the immediate
focus of work in Fife be given to staff training and development, and improving
assessment and diagnostic processes as well as ongoing care as highlighted
in the Implementation Plan. By focusing on such work initially it will not only
allow Fife to learn from the experiences in England and by Alzheimer
Scotland, but will also allow time for the careful consideration of how the
Dementia Advisors will fit into the improved service models.
Because dementia is becoming so common we should be using
community halls, that kind of thing. And get people up there a few times a
week just to give carers a break – that would work a lot better than just
these big day centres in another town… it maintains social skills too.
(Dementia Care Worker)
They (social workers) basically get you kind of set up then drop the case,
and that’s it. I understand why, being so busy, but it leaves you alone. My
daughter deals with all that stuff for me. (Husband Carer)
26 SIGN (2006). Pp 21-22.
27 NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (2009). Baseline assessment of current information
provision to people with dementia and their carers. Edinburgh.
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