World Alzheimer's Month – September 2023
September marks World Alzheimer’s Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness, educating and encouraging support of dementia.
Dementia is one of the biggest challenges we face, with nearly 50 million people living with dementia across the world.
Wales, within its Dementia Action Plan, is working towards becoming a dementia-friendly nation, and the Allied Health professionals (AHP) Dementia Framework for Wales defines the value of the enabling, patient-centred approach to care that is offered by all AHPs.
The Allied Health Professionals (AHP) Dementia Framework has been developed through an evidence-informed approach, and is relevant to people living with dementia, their carers/supporters, AHPs, together with AHP managers, health and social care sectors, and the third and independent sectors.
The framework has been shaped by listening to people living with dementia, their carers and supporters, together with appraisal of research evidence, and perspectives of AHP leaders. This whole system, tiered approach to care and support is offered to align with prudent healthcare principles, ensuring people with dementia receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
A person living with dementia commented on the framework, saying: ““The Allied Health Professionals Dementia Framework provides much needed hope and encouragement to those of us living with Dementia.
“The AHP approach to our Care will ensure that we are receiving the right support post diagnosis on a holistic basis. This whole approach to Dementia Care has been developed through Coproduction, seeking out the opinions, experiences, desires, needs and challenges of those of Living with Dementia, our Families and Carers which has been indispensable in putting together a framework that we can feel confident is fit for purpose.”