The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Ingalill Rahm Hallberg

Ingalill Rahm Hallberg

Professor emerita

Ingalill Rahm Hallberg

Dementia care and service systems - A mapping system tested in nine Swedish municipalities 11 Medical and Health Sciences 1117 Public Health and Health Services

Author

  • Connie Lethin
  • Lottie Giertz
  • Emme Li Vingare
  • Ingalill Rahm Hallberg

Summary, in English

Background: In dementia care, it is crucial that the chain of care is adapted to the needs of people with dementia and their informal caregivers throughout the course of the disease. Assessing the existing dementia care system with regard to facilities, availability and utilization may provide useful information for ensuring that the professional dementia care and service system meets the needs of patients and their families from disease onset to end of life. Methods: The aim of this study was to further develop and test a mapping system, and adapt it to a local context. In addition, the aim was to assess availability and utilization of care activities as well as professional providers' educational level in nine municipalities under the categories of Screening, the diagnostic procedures, and treatment; Outpatient care facilities; Institutional care and Palliative care. This cross-sectional study was conducted in April through May 2015. Data was derived from the health care and social service systems in nine rural and urban municipalities in two counties in Sweden. The mapping system covered seven categories with altogether 56 types of health care and social service activities. Results: The mapping system was found to be reliable with minor adaptations to the context mainly in terms of activities. Availability of care activities was common with low utilization regarding Screening, the diagnostic procedures, and treatment; Outpatient care facilities; Institutional care and Palliative care and dementia trained staff was rare. Availability and utilization of care activities and professionals' educational level was higher concerning screening, the diagnostic procedures and treatment compared with outpatient care facilities, institutional care and palliative care. Conclusions: The mapping system enables policy makers and professionals to assess and develop health care and social service systems, to be offered proactively and on equal terms to people with dementia and their informal caregivers throughout the course of the disease. The educational level of professionals providing care and services may reveal where, in the chain of care, dementia-specific education for professionals, needs to be developed.

Department/s

  • Clinical Memory Research
  • Health-promoting Complex Interventions

Publishing year

2018

Language

English

Publication/Series

BMC Health Services Research

Volume

18

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

BioMed Central (BMC)

Topic

  • Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy

Keywords

  • Chain of care
  • Dementia
  • Education
  • Institutional care
  • Palliative care
  • Professional care providers
  • Screening

Status

Published

Research group

  • Clinical Memory Research
  • Health-promoting Complex Interventions

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1472-6963