Designing an Evidence Based Policy Document for occupational therapists in dementia

There is an estimated 46.8 million people worldwide living with dementia (Alzheimer Disease International 2015:1) and approximately 90,000 people have dementia; it is likely occupational therapists will work with people living... [ view full abstract ]

There is an estimated 46.8 million people worldwide living with dementia (Alzheimer Disease International 2015:1) and approximately 90,000 people have dementia; it is likely occupational therapists will work with people living with dementia at some point in their career. Occupational therapists play a vital part enabling people to live well with dementia and to support their families.

As a key commitment in Scotland’s Dementia Strategy (Scottish Government 2013:24); the Government commissioned the author to produce an evidence based allied health professions dementia policy document The focus of this workshop, will be the sharing of the “jigsaw of evidence” (Taylor 2007:8) including the:
• application of appreciative inquiry to integrate the voice of people living with dementia and their families
• significance of transformational leadership (Hunter 2013) embedding the clinical expertise of occupational therapy
• results from three supporting research projects completed in 2015

The workshop will discuss this new dementia policy and its implications to the work of occupational therapists in Europe and internationally, now and in the future.

This workshop will be suitable for up to 40 occupational therapists

Alzheimer Disease International 2015 World Alzheimer Report. The Global Impact of Dementia. An Analysis of Prevalence, incidence, Costs and Trends London August

Hunter EP 2013 The Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lecture 2013: Transformational Leadership in Occupational Therapy — Delivering Change through Conversations British Journal of Occupational Therapy August 2013 76:8 346-354

Scottish Government 2013 Scotland’s National Dementia Strategy: 2013-16

Taylor MC 2007 Evidence-based practice for occupational therapists 2nd Ed Blackwell Publishing