1. Summary With an ageing population, many more people will be affected by dementia, both personally and as carers. ‘As generalists, GPs have core values to consider patients as people, to be moved by their suffering & to be companions on their difficult & life-changing journeys.’ 1 GPs currently have minimal input to care of people with dementia, often lacking skills, knowledge & confidence. This has parallels with Diabetes care in Aberdeen 15 years ago when GPs had little confidence or competence in caring for people with diabetes, but following an education programme, the majority of diabetes care is now carried out by GPs & Primary Care Teams in the community. Multiple agencies & different professional groups also need to be involved in supporting people with dementia & their carers, often co-ordinated by the GP. We developed a learner-centred, self-directed educational programme for GPs, based on Key Challenges highlighted in Scotland’s National Dementia Strategies 2 and the Alzheimer’s Scotland 5 & 8 Pillar Models. 3 Our Aims were to help GPs: understand the experience and implications of dementia improve skills, knowledge & attitudes Increase confidence in caring for people with dementia build better working relationships, esp..around Health & Social Care Integration improve care of people with dementia & families in the community, promoting resilience & independence What did we do? Between 2012- 2015, GPs from 37 Grampian GP practices had an enhanced educational experience in dementia care, with wide multidisciplinary input, in many relevant venues. Facilitated self-learning programme for GPs 5 Interactive Sessions Sept – May, with input from: Patients & carers Alzheimer’s Scotland Care Homes with EMI Units Consultants, Nurses, OT and Pharmacists in 2’ Care Social Work staff Solicitors Interactive Teaching sessions Making & Communicating the Diagnosis Living Well with Dementia including Active Ageing, Carer support & Telecare Prescribing & Non-drug management Capacity Assessment & Power of Attorney Anticipatory Care, End of Life Care & Dying well Job-shadowing sessions Linked Consultant Old Age Psychiatrists Radiologists with observation of SPECT & CT scans Community Psychiatric Nurses Old Age Psychiatry multi-disciplinary meetings Care Homes. Project & Poster presentation demonstrating a learner-centred reflective approach carried out in all aspects of the dementia journey highlighting much good practice to be spread suggesting areas for future work. Educational model for Health & Social Care Integration supports high quality person-centred care Improves skills & knowledge of all aspects of care builds relationships for enhanced joint working Feedback Feedback from each session was received from the participants and used to evaluate the programme. Each session in all 3 years rated very good or excellent as was did overall feedback at completion of course. Many aspects rated highly changed practice as a result of participating. better informed & more confident in caring for people with dementia. pre-course work to develop the syllabus useful, with workshop topic selection by delegates important. “Learning objectives comprehensively covered” “The scholarship has provided a good understanding of the post diagnostic support available” “Personally better equipped to assess capacity and advice on Power of Attorney and guardianship” “Knowledge of third sector services available to dementia patients and their families” “All areas of management of dementia improved” “Increased confidence in dealing with earlier diagnosis and helping advise patients on legal issues” “Greater knowledge of local resources available to patients and carers” “I am glad that my colleagues have also benefitted from my participation ” GPs equipped & enthused to care for people with Dementia! -the Grampian GP Dementia Scholarship 2012 -2015 Course Organisers & Facilitators Dr Peter Kiehlmann GP, Danestone Medical Practice & Clinical Lead, Dementia Care, Aberdeen City Dr Alison Haddow Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist, NHS Grampian (2013-2015) Dr Sridhar Vaitheswaran Clinical Director, Older Adult Mental Health Service, NHS Grampian (2012-2014) Funded by the Change Fund from Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray 1 Royal College of GPs The 2022 GP. A Vision for GP in the Future NHS 2 Scotland’s National Dementia Strategy [2010 & 2-13-2016] 3 Alzheimer’s Scotland 5 & 8 Pillar Models of Community Support' 2012 Alzheimer's Scotland - 5 & 8 Pillar Models of Community Support 3 Used with permission Future workstreams identified include: Development & wide rollout of Dementia Pathway GP access to CT & SPECT Scans Further rollout & cascade of GP education Capacity Assessment, & Power of Attorney esp. important Education for GP Practice Managers & Reception Staff