The government has been investing in training their workforce so they can recognize signs of cognitive impairment (informal source, 2019). In São José dos Campos (state of São Paulo) there is a dementia training for doctors, nurses, and dentists. This programme is based on discussions of dementia clinical cases together with a multidisciplinary team (informal source, 2019). As stated above, Brazil comprises 5,570 municipalities, thus other unknown strategies might exist. The Law Project 4364/2020 supports the health professionals training in dementia.

The Mental Health Review Report (MHRR) proposes recommendations on strengthening workforce training on dementia.

• “Recommendation 6 – There is also a need to increase the supply of healthcare manpower and strengthen their training. Training for healthcare and social care providers should be enhanced so that they are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge in providing care to persons with dementia”(Food and Health Bureau, 2017a, p. 187).

 The Elderly Service Programme Plan proposes five recommendations on enhancing staff training on dementia detection and sustaining the workforce for elderly services.

• “Recommendation 10(i) – Enhancing workers’ knowledge and skills in early detection of dementia (including mild cognitive impairment cases) in elderly centres at a neighbourhood level and in making timely referrals to appropriate services” (Working Group on Elderly Services Programme Plan, 2017, p. 30).
• “Recommendation 10(ii) – Strengthening training in early detection, management, and care of dementia in elderly service units, particularly in community care services” (Working Group on Elderly Services Programme Plan, 2017, p. 30).
• “Recommendation 12a – Measures to improve recruitment, retention, working condition, and career development of staff in elderly service should be explored” (Working Group on Elderly Services Programme Plan, 2017, p. 32).
• “Recommendation 12b – The structure of professional staff should be fine-tuned to enable more flexible staff deployment and maximisation of staff input” (Working Group on Elderly Services Programme Plan, 2017, p. 33).
• “Recommendation 12d –There should be ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the manpower measures” (Working Group on Elderly Services Programme Plan, 2017, p. 34).

References:

Food and Health Bureau. (2017a). Mental Health Review Report.  Retrieved from https://www.fhb.gov.hk/download/press_and_publications/otherinfo/180500_mhr/e_mhr_full_report.pdf.

Working Group on Elderly Services Programme Plan, Elderly Commission of Government of Hong Kong SAR,. (2017). Elderly Services Programme Plan. Hong Kong: Elderly Commission of Government HKSAR Retrieved from https://www.elderlycommission.gov.hk/en/download/library/ESPP_Final_Report_Eng.pdf.

There are courses to improve awareness and knowledge about dementia among the workforce. The Cognitive Neurology subdivision of the Indian Academy of Neurologists conducts teaching courses in cognitive neurology in neurology and psychiatry annually (IAN, n.d.). In addition, geriatric care training was provided by the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (National Institute of Social Defence, [NISD], n.d.). This training programme included a module on dementia care (NISD, n.d.). However, this programme is not being continued. The NISD also had a bedside assistants programme (NISD, n.d.), which has also been discontinued.

More recently, the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka, NITI-Aayog and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) have come together to launch the Karnataka Brain Health Initiative (KBHI). KBHI aims to develop a comprehensive strategy to address burden associated with common neurological disorders including dementia in the community (Karnataka Brain Health Initiative (KBHI), 2022). As a part of this initiative, a pilot project to train public primary health care physicians on diagnosing and treating neurological conditions including dementia has been initiated by specialists at NIMHANS in Karnataka (Alladi, 2022).

References:

Alladi. S (2022). Primary Health Care doctors training by neurologists. Twitter. Available from: https://twitter.com/alladi_suvarna/status/1502244487191416833?cxt=HHwWgsCqjdzZhdkpAAAA

Indian Academy of Neurology. (n.d.). Cognitive Neurology. Available from: https://www.ianindia.org/cognitive-neurology.php

Karnataka Brain Health Initiative (2022). Forum for Karnataka Brain Health Initiative. National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences. Available from: https://brainhealthnimhans.in/#

National Institute of Social Defence. (n.d). Courses. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Available from: http://www.nisd.gov.in/old_age_training.html

The fifth action step mentioned the inclusion of dementia in the training curriculum for doctors and nurses (Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia, 2015b).

References:

Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia. (2015b). National Strategy: Management of Alzheimer and Other Dementia Diseases: Towards Healthy and Productive Older Persons. Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia.

Not applicable.

It points out the need for qualified and specialised personnel, organised in multidisciplinary teams with the participation of specialists, rehabilitators, caregivers, and family members.

NZ Dementia framework

Workforce training is one of the overarching factors included in the framework, outlining the requirements for education and training opportunities such as the need to follow best practice and for experiential learning and input from people with dementia and their families and whanau. Woven throughout the key elements of the framework are the knowledge and experiential requirements of health care workers.

Dementia plan:

The fourth priority action area of the dementia plan is on Strengthening leadership and capability across the sector. Action areas include:

• The development and implementation of a workforce strategy that addresses the long-term growth needs of the dementia and aged care sector, and the impact of the ageing workforce, so there are sufficient numbers of appropriately skilled and qualified people available when needed and the need to,
• Improve training support for best-practice medical care and disability and social support services and make this education more available across all parts of the dementia and aged care sector, home and community care, primary care, and within the core health service.