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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Tony Young
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This workshop introduces the new Dementia Toolkit for Effective Communication (‘DEMTEC’). This draws together best current practice in effective communicative practices involving people living with dementia and their social partners. If best practice can be indexed, related to clear underlying principles, and applied in real life, real-time situations, then the quality of life of everyone touched by dementia can only be improved. With this aim in mind, over the past 18 months representatives from stakeholder groups in the UK have been taking part in a series of consultation exercises to discuss and agree best practice. Participants have included people living with dementia, family members, speech and language therapists, communication scholars, psycho-geriatricians, care home workers and managers, and psychiatrists. A three level toolkit was agreed, and is in the process of being disseminated for national and international discussion and input. Level 1 of DEMTEC is a statement of basic beliefs and principles underlying a person-centred and empowering approach to effective communication. Based on this, Level 2 consists of 8 components of effective communication: examples of components include mindfulness and empathy, non-verbal communication and environmental considerations. Each of these Level 2 components consists of a definition, a rationale for inclusion in the toolkit, and a list of specific strategies and considerations for optimising communication. Level 3 consists of practical and individualised advice on actual communication with people living with the condition, in the form of examples of use and case studies. During the workshop we will show how DEMTEC might be applied to real-life situations. We will also seek your input and comment as part of an ongoing process of refinement and response which seeks to make DEMTEC as applicable as possible in every context and situation, and to every individual touched by dementia.
Author(s): Young TJ, Manthorp C, Howells D
Publication type: Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)
Publication status: Published
Conference Name: 5th UK Dementia Congress
Year of Conference: 2009
