Author: Gould N, Kendall T
Journal: British Journal of Social Work, 2007
Volume/pages: Vol 37, pp475-490

About the study
This paper describes the process of developing the national guidelines for dementia care by a multidisciplinary group that included service users and carers (the Guideline Development Group). They undertook a systematic review of the relevant literature. The process involved six main steps: defining the scope; defining key questions; developing search criteria and search strategy; designing and implementing protocols for the systematic review of the evidence; synthesising and analysing the data and; answering the key questions and developing the recommendations.

Findings
The recommendations made in the Guideline include: that people should not be excluded from any service because of a diagnosis of dementia; that the rights of carers to an assessment of needs is upheld; that carers should be referred for psychological therapy if necessary; early multidisciplinary assessment of behaviour should be conducted to try and ameliorate the causes of the challenging behaviour; services for people with dementia and their carers should be integrated across all sectors and should include joint assessments.

Key messages

• Values-based, anti-discriminatory policies are critical to effective care for people with dementia.
• Carers of people with dementia are also at risk of social exclusion and disempowerment.
• Services should be integrated and coordinated across heath and social care.