the intervention was received by participants
and the challenges associated with engaging
with and implementing early intervention/
forward planning strategies with people with
a progressive incurable condition will be
discussed.
experimental design with a non-equivalent
control group. The in-home intervention
consisted of seven sessions in which dyads
(n=39) worked with a facilitator to discuss
their current and future care expectations
with respect to preferences for care providers
(formal and informal) and settings (home and/
or residential care). The sessions aimed to
inform and empower the dyad to respond and
manage issues they may experience during
the disease/caregiving course. Thirty-five
dyads completing the intervention, intervention
effectiveness in assisting dyads to manage
the consequences of dementia was evaluated
using a mixed-method analysis.
changes to capacity/functioning to be
challenging and withdrew from the study. The
majority (74%) of dyads who completed the
intervention stated they felt better informed
and identified tangible actions taken to plan
for the future. Early intervention creates a
window of opportunity for involving the person
with dementia, whilst they are still able to
participate in care-related discussions but the
results indicate that acceptance of forward
planning approaches is influenced by gender,
age and dyadic relationship.
Nurse Practitioner Aged CareQueensland
HealthGold Coast Health ServicesMemory and
Cognition Clinic
of how three women, all living with dementia,
stayed living in their own homes, with unique
support not traditionally associated or given by
community groups.BRIEF DESCRIPTIONI will
describe each lady; her home situation,;her
carer situation and how some innovative ideas
by the carers enabled each lady to safely stay
in their own home.
has enabled three women to experience
pleasures not always available to some one
living with dementia - and at the same time
extending their time in their own home.
first meeting with Maria, Dora and Lurleen
when they each individually attended the
Memory and Cognition Clinic - was of the
stress of their carers. All the carers felt that
supported accommodation placement was
imminent for their loved one.However each
carer developed a unique strategy that greatly
improved the 3 ladies quality of life as well as
reducing the personal anxiety that each carer
was experiencing. Each strategy extended the
ladies time at home and when the time arrived
- assisted their transition into full time care.