DIRECT — Dementia Education
DIRECT (Dementia in Residential Care: Education Intervention Trial) is a self-directed learning package for general practitioners and RACF staff working with residents of residential aged care facilities (RACFs). The package for GPs combines four video education sessions with a Guided Reflection workbook designed to help GPs translate the material into changes in clinical practice and improvements in the systems by which GPs and RACFs work together.
The package is intended to be used in order. For each video, view the session and then complete the matching Guided Reflection section in the Learning Guide.
- Download the Learning Guide from the GP Learning Guide tab.
- For each video, view the session and complete the matching Guided Reflection section.
- Use the practice-development report templates at the back of the Learning Guide to record at least one example of a change in clinical practice and one example of a system improvement that arose from the package.
Download the Self-directed Learning Guide. It contains the learning objectives, Guided Reflection worksheets for each video, and the practice-development report templates used to record changes you make as a result of the package.
Download the Learning Guide (PDF)
GP Case study videos
Click any tab to open the video. Each video corresponds to a Guided Reflection section in the Learning Guide.
Objectives:
- Identify systems that support GPs and RACFs working effectively together.
- Increase understanding of the experience of residents in RACFs.
- Increase confidence in talking to residents with dementia.
- Increase participation in decision-making by residents with dementia and their families.
Reflection prompts: Learning Guide, Video #1 — Working with RACFs and Communication.
Objectives:
- Increase knowledge and awareness of pain in residents with dementia, and improve its management.
- Increase knowledge and awareness of depression and delirium in residents with dementia, and improve management of both.
Reflection prompts: Learning Guide, Video #2 — The Pain of Dementia and Dementia, or Delirium or Depression.
Objectives:
- Understand the reasons behind behaviours of concern shown by residents with dementia.
- Participate effectively in detailed individual analysis and intervention.
- Establish systems to ensure restraint is not used in a way that compromises resident safety.
Reflection prompts: Learning Guide, Video #3 — Interventions in Behaviours of Concern, Restraint and Case Study.
Objectives:
- Identify systems that support GPs and RACFs working effectively together.
- Build confidence in working with family members and managing medication at end of life.
- Increase understanding of the use of delirium assessment tools with people with dementia.
Reflection prompts: Learning Guide, Video #4 — Case study: End-of-life medicine management and GPs and RACF managers working together.
The materials below support trainers running dementia education sessions for staff in residential aged care facilities. They are a separate audience from the GP self-directed package above — GPs do not need to work through them.
DIRECT Abbreviated Lesson Plans (PDF) — 24+ short lesson plans covering person-centred care, the experience of residents, bathing, communication, families, pain, depression and delirium, behaviours of concern, restraint and end of life. Designed for staff trainers.
Download the Abbreviated Lesson Plans (PDF)
DIRECT Trainers Kit (ZIP) — the full supporting bundle for trainers: lesson documents, resource documents and PowerPoint slide decks grouped into four topic kits (Val in Action / Communication / Pain & the 3Ds / Behaviours of Concern) plus an introduction and a resource checklist.
Copyright Acknowledgements
DIRECT was originally developed in 2009 and is released under a Creative Commons Attribution–Noncommercial–No Derivative Works 2.5 Australia License (2009), so any RACF, training organisation or general practice in Australia can use the materials at no cost.
This site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution–Noncommercial–No Derivative Works 2.5 Australia License (2009). Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from the Western Australian Centre for Health and Ageing. All photographic images within the site are excluded from this license and are copyright.
Enquiries: wacha@uwa.edu.au.