Dementia, Safety and Risk for Abuse

Mary SchulzDirector of EducationAlzheimer Society of Canada

Conflict of Interest Disclosure Mary Schulz, MSW; RSW

Director of EducationAlzheimer Society of Canada

Has no real or apparent conflicts of interest to report.

Alzheimer Society of Canada

Alzheimer Society of Canada Framework: Person Centred Approach to Care Throughout the Continuum of the Disease

Dementia and Safety Risks

Early

Middle

Late

End of Life

• Driving

• Home Safety

• Way finding

• Vulnerable to exploitation (judgement)

• Responsive behaviours

• Carer stress

• Dependence on carers (e.g. LTC homes)

• Restraint use

Rationale

i) “Rising Tide: The Impact of Dementia on Canadian Society”

ii) Personal stories and the media

Alzheimer Society of CanadaFocus on Abuse

Abuse of People with Dementia:Some findings

• Abuse = Typically a hidden problem

• 4% - 10% of Canadian seniors experience some form of abuse of neglect

Abuse of People with Dementia:Some findings

• People with dementia are more vulnerable to abuse

↑ Dependency↓ Social networks↑ Isolation↓ Ability to take action due to ↓ cognitive abilities

•Attitude that people with dementia are of lesser value

•Caregiver issues and “abuse” by person with dementia

TOOLS

• Evidence based tools for detection, management and prevention of elder abuse

• National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly www.nicenet.ca

• “In Hand” – tool to help practitioners in their ethical reflection leading to decision making in a senior abuse situation

Our staff speak:

•Survey of learning needs•Key findings

Alzheimer Society of CanadaOur Challenges

• Living Safely with Dementia

• Resources and capacity

• Ethics

Complex

Multi-facetedMultiple priorities – sense of urgency

Awareness of safety strategies Lives saved

Moving Forward

• Create staff toolkits

• Partnerships ++

• Build safety tips into all our literature

One Family’s Tragedy

Mary Schulz MSW; RSW

Director of EducationAlzheimer Society of Canada

mschulz@alzheimer.ca