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The Dementia Care Support Worker: trialling a new role in aged care

In collaboration with Masonic Care Tasmania, and supported by funding from the Masonic Centenary Medical Research Foundation (MCMRF), the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre and Masonic Care Tasmania (MCT), Dr Emma Lea recently completed a 2-year project to explore the implementation of  the Dementia Care Support Worker role, a new role for a care worker who has recently graduated with a Bachelor of Dementia Care.  The goal of this project was to develop the role, evaluate its impact and generated a framework for modelling new aged care roles which capitalise on the strengths of care worker graduates of the Bachelor of Dementia Care.

The intent of the Dementia Care Support Worker is to drive evidence-based practice, support quality of life of residents living with dementia, and mentor and coach staff and family in dementia care.  Supported by a small team comprising key Masonic Care Tasmania managers, staff and the Wicking Dementia Centre, the Dementia Care Support Worker undertook activities such as responding to requests from staff for support for residents; working with residents and their families directly; working with care staff to inform and implement improvements to care practices; facilitating uptake of dementia education opportunities for staff; and providing structured and ad hoc dementia education for staff, family and students.  The Wicking Dementia Centre led evaluation of the processes around development of this new care worker role, and the impact of this role on other staff and on residents in the aged care facility.

This project identified ways to maximise the benefits of the role, which include staff training and education about dementia, trialling new approaches to care and supporting family.  The Dementia Care Support Worker role holds much promise as a way for a care worker graduate to contribute to optimising care approaches to dementia care.