Out & About
Training for professionals working with Demetia clients
By MaltaMedia News
Sep 4, 2008 - 5:04:29 PM

The Ministry for Social Policy, together with the Secretariat for the Elderly and Community Care has recently organized training courses for persons interested in the field of Dementia Care.

These courses were a European Social Fund (ESF) project, and were part of the Structural Funds Program for Malta 2004-2008 of the European Union. The Project Leader was Dr. Ray Xerri.

The first training course, inaugurated by Dr. Stephanie Xuereb, Director of the Department for the Elderly & Community Care and Ms. Marjorie Bonello, Project Manager comprised a selective attendance of about 30 participants per session. 

The training courses were purposely targeted for all those involved in caring for people with Dementia including different grades of health care professionals. In fact, a number of those who participated were Nursing Managers, Nursing Officers, Head of Services and Enrolled Nurses respectively.

The main themes of the courses, which were held this month, were ‘Implementing person-centered practices’ and ‘Dementia Care Nursing – Promoting best practice in Malta’ respectively. 

The overall aim of the project was to improve the quality of care offered to people with Dementia, and to promote the best practices. Certificates were presented to each participant by Dr. Stephanie Xuereb, Director of the Department for the Elderly and Community Care, at the end of each course.
 
Following the success of these courses, three more training sessions will be organized during the 3rd week of September regarding the same subject. The discussed themes will be exploring the implementation of practices focused around the person, awareness about the Dementia condition itself, and care practices of Dementia from a personal perspective. 

Dementia is nowadays becoming increasingly more common as people are living longer lives. A 90 year old person has a 33% chance of developing the condition.

In Malta, it is estimated that out of an elderly population of 52,128, a good 4,000 suffer from Dementia. What might sound alarming is the fact that the number of people suffering from the condition will be nearly doubled within 20 years as worldwide progress in the health sector is increasing longevity.  



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