07.01.07. What are the links between primary care services, specialist care services and community/institutional care services supporting people with dementia? | Kenya

07.01.07. What are the links between primary care services, specialist care services and community/institutional care services supporting people with dementia? | Kenya

01 Apr 2022

In primary care settings with a mental health clinic within the hospital, treatment for dementia focuses on reducing symptoms and improving the quality of life of the person with dementia by engaging caregivers. Pharmacological interventions are also provided to persons with dementia but with the help of the caregivers since the late stage diagnosis makes it difficult to sustain conversations with the person with dementia (Musyimi et al., 2019). Advice to caregivers by health providers is not always adhered to since different caregivers (some who may not have the full history of the individual) accompany the person with dementia to primary care settings (Sheilah, 2018).

References:

Musyimi, C., Mutunga, E., & Ndetei, D. (2019). Stigma and dementia care in Kenya: Strengthening Responses to Dementia in Developing Countries (STRiDE) Project. In World Alzheimer Report 2019: Attitudes to dementia (pp. 121–122). London, UK: Alzheimer’s Disease International. https://www.alzint.org/u/WorldAlzheimerReport2019.pdf

Sheilah, M. (2018). The Potential of SMS Based Automated Reminders Towards Adherence to Clinical Instructions for Dementia Patients: A case of Healthcare Givers. University of Nairobi.