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Evidence summary BITE 23 – Dementia education and training

Who needs to know?

Providers of education and in-service training.

What have we found?

  • In a study of acute hospital settings, all staff groups expressed feeling ill-prepared to care for the complex needs of patients with dementia or cognitive impairment.

  • Training at all levels, for all staff, should have greater emphasis on caring for patients with dementia or cognitive impairment. Guidelines have made these recommendations, but current findings indicate they have not been fully implemented.

  • A change in culture across acute hospital wards is required in order to provide the best care for patients with cognitive impairment.