DSA produces a variety of resources for information and assistance for health care professionals and family members who are supporting a person living with dementia.
Resources include:
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Evidence based and comprehensive guides to understand and respond to behaviour,
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Quick reference guides on a number of different topics,
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A range of resources designed for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders living in remote communities; and
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Resources and guides to psychosocial approaches in dementia care.
For more information please contact DSA on1800 699 799.
Comprehensive Guides: Understand & Respond to Behaviour
Clinician’s Field Guide to Good Practice, Managing BPSD - 2 MB
An abbreviated version of the Guide to Good Practice. Ideal for clinicians who need ready access to evidence based information about a range of changes in behaviour.
Behaviour Management: A Guide to Good Practice - 5 MB
A comprehensive guide with very detailed information about different types of behavioural expressions.
Guide for Family Carers, Dealing with Behaviours in People with Dementia - 1 MB
Based on the Clinician's Field Guide but written specially for family carers who are seeking a more in-depth understanding of behavioural and psychological changes.
ReBOC Guide 2012 - 3 MB
The Reducing Behaviours of Concern (ReBOC) guide promotes evidence based practice in dementia care to maximise the quality of life for people living with dementia and their carers.
Quick Reference Guides
Responding to Inappropriate Toileting - 376 KB
This quick reference guide contains a range of suggestions to help you support a person who is having difficulty using and/or finding the toilet.
Delirium Screen
Quick Reference Guide: Delirium Screen.
Psychosocial approaches: Validation - 302 KB
This brief guide can serve as a reminder for how to use validation or reflective listening approaches in four different scenarios.
Responding to Exit Seeking & Leaving a Safe Area
Contains strategies to assist you in caring for a person who may be at risk of leaving a safe area and becoming lost.
Responding to Medication Management Issues
Provides practical strategies to try and others to avoid when responding to common medication difficulties.
Resources for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders living in remote communities
12 top tips: Working with people with dementia for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander carers
A quick reference summary of 12 key points to work with people with dementia for remote Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander carers.
Activity Guidelines for Indigenous Australians
Activity guidelines for health professionals working with Indigenous Australians with dementia in rural and remote Australia.
Aggression in dementia
A4 poster on understanding and responding to aggression.
Agitation in dementia
A4 poster on understanding and responding to agitation.
Anxiety in dementia
A4 poster on understanding and responding to anxiety.
Apathy in dementia
A4 poster on understanding and responding to apathy.
Calling out & dementia
A4 poster on understanding and responding to calling out.
Delusions & hallucinations in dementia
A4 poster on understanding and responding to a person who is experiencing delusions and hallucinations.
Depression in dementia
A4 poster on understanding and responding to depression in a person who is living with dementia.
Resistance to care
A4 Poster about understanding and responding to a person who refuses care.
Sleep problems
A4 Poster on helping a person who is experiencing problems with their sleep and dementia.
Socially inappropriate behaviour
A4 Poster on supporting a person with changes in social behaviour.
Things to do: Activity ideas for carers
Resource that outlines activities ideas to use with people living with dementia from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds. Aims to improve quality of life and reduce the impact of behaviour.
Wandering
A4 Poster on responding to wandering behaviour in a person living with dementia. For A3 colour copies of the 11 posters in this range please contact Kim Burns via email: k.burns@unsw.edu.au.
Resources: Psychosocial Approaches
Animal Assisted Therapy in Dementia Care
Guidelines for introducing Animal Assisted Therapy in Dementia Care; including Animal Assisted Activity and Simulated and Robotic Pets for Therapy.
Child Representative Therapy in Dementia Care
Guidelines on introducing Child Representative Therapy in Dementia Care.
Gardens that Care
Gardens and outdoor environments offer rich possibilities for engagement, enjoyment, peace and tranquility. Well designed outdoor spaces can be a key component to support well-being for people living with dementia, family and careworkers. Learn more in this highly visual resource.
Responding with Psychosocial Approaches: Delusions & Hallucinations - 767 KB
This resource aims to provide you with an understanding of the potential causes of delusions and hallucinations and how the person with dementia can be supported. Each scenario in this guide shows a way of responding to the person in a way that validates emotions, and when appropriate, provides a valued re-direction so the person can focus on something which alleviates distress and worry.
Using Apps to Create Engagement & Enjoyment
This guide describes a way to explore the potential benefits of apps and the use of a tablet device to create engagement and enjoyment with, and for, a person living with dementia. A tablet device can provide easy access to play games, reminisce, listen to music or be artistic. It can be used to assist relaxation; and assist family carers and health professionals to respond to a person with behavioural and psychological changes.