Conference 2014: Dementia Care in Acute Hospital Settings
Friday, 31st January, 2014
National Conference on Dementia Care in Acute Hospitals
Over 170 delegates from a wide range of disciplines attended the first National Conference on Dementia Care in Acute Hospitals in University College Cork on Friday 31st January 2014. The conference, which was opened by Ms Kathleen Lynch, Minister for Disability, Older People, Equality & Mental Health, included speakers from a wide range of backgrounds, including Gerontology, Psychiatry of Old Age, Nursing, Social Work, General Practice and the HSE. This ensured that a broad spectrum of perspectives on the experience and issues of caring for older people with dementia during an acute hospital admission were presented throughout the day.
An expert panel discussion, chaired by Professor Des O’Neill, ensured that delegates could explore issues most pertinent to them and facilitated information sharing and discussion. Questions and answers throughout the day continued to generate discussion around each of the subjects presented.
Topics discussed on the day included community perspectives on acute hospital care, aspects of the National Dementia Strategy, the economic case for better dementia care in acute hospitals, and emerging data from the Dementia in Acute Cork Hospitals Study (ODCACS). Two breakout sessions in the afternoon gave delegates the choice to attend lectures focused on ‘challenging behaviour and delirium’ or ‘towards better care’. These sessions included presentations on the acute hospital environment, the National Dementia Education Programme and perspectives on end of life and palliative care.
The conference also saw the official launch of the results of the first Irish National Audit of Dementia care in Acute Hospitals, which found that Ireland does not yet have standardised care for people with dementia in acute hospitals. The audit also showed differences in the access to dementia-relevant services between hospitals, with poor access to many diagnostic and support services. The results highlighted inadequate assessment of cognition, delirium, mood, and behavioural and psychological symptoms in people with dementia during their admission, and where assessed and discovered, issues were not highlighted on discharge. Media coverage of the report can be found at https://storify.com/UCC_Ireland/national-dementia-audit-in-acute-hospitals-shows
Dr Kevin Stewart shared learning from the UK experience of conducting national audits, including the second round of the National Dementia Audit. This presentation gave insight into the challenges of translating research and audit findings into practical change and improvement in service delivery and structure.
Overall the day was a great success and provided a rich learning experience for all those attending. The argument for developing appropriate and responsive dementia care in all acute hospitals in Ireland was clearly and eloquently presented, along with a number of practical steps necessary to achieving this goal.
Conference Presentations
Download the conference presentations below
Conference Announcement - Dementia Care in Acute Hospital Settings
The Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, University College Cork, in conjunction with our partners, is proud to host the inaugural National Conference on Dementia Care in Acute Hospitals, which will take place on Friday January 31st 2014, from 9.30am to 4.15pm, in U.C.C.
This one-day interdisciplinary conference will be opened by Minister for Disability, Older People, Equality & Mental Health, Kathleen Lynch, T.D, in the Western Gateway Building.
The Conference Programme boasts speakers from a wide range of backgrounds including Gerontology, Psychiatry and Psychiatry of Old Age, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, General Practice and the HSE. The event will provide a forum for the most cutting-edge developments in research and practice relating to dementia care in hospital settings to be disseminated and discussed.
Some highlights of the conference will include an expert panel discussion, chaired by Professor Des O’ Neill, focusing on the issues surrounding best care for people with dementia in acute hospitals, and an afternoon breakout session for delegates with a special interest in the area of delirium in the acute hospital setting.
Topics will include the National Dementia Strategy, GP/community perspectives, the economic perspective, challenging behaviour, delirium, the hospital environment, education, and end of life and palliative care, all as they relate to dementia care in acute hospitals.
This event will also host the official launch of the results of the first ever ‘Irish National Audit of Dementia Care in Acute Hospitals’ (INAD), a collaboration between UCC, TCD and the HSE Quality and Patient Safety Directorate.
RCPI approval for 6 external CPD credits.
An Bord Altranais Category 1 approval for 5 CEUs (credits).
To avoid disappointment, delegates can register early by purchasing their ticket below.
Registration Options:
Delegate Registration – €45
Student Registration – €35
http://www.uccconferencing.ie/product/dementia-care-acute-hospitals/
Contact: Emma O’Shea, Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, UCC
Email: emma.oshea@ucc.ie. Tel: +353 21 4901930.