The Prevalence of Dementia Diagnosis and Delivery of Appropriate Dementia Care in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services

This study aimed to assess the recorded prevalence of a dementia diagnosis and the receipt of appropriate dementia care among current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients of Aboriginal and Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) aged 45 and over, as documented in medical records. ACCHSs are Australian primary healthcare organisations that are initiated, governed and operated by local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. A manual audit of medical records was undertaken by a staff member from each participating ACCHS to identify current clients with a documented diagnosis of dementia and examine their receipt of key elements of dementia-related care. Across 9 ACCHSs located in New South Wales, a total of 70 clients with a recorded diagnosis of dementia were identified (1.2% recorded prevalence rate). The majority of clients with a dementia diagnosis had documented receipt of elements of appropriate dementia care including an active chronic disease management plan (61%), annual health assessment (56%), referral to aged care services (69%), and assessment of one or more dementia-related risks (94%). However, less than half of clients had a documented cognitive assessment within the last 12 months (41%) or completed any advance planning documentation (37%). Clients with a dementia diagnosis received a mean of 3.6 out of 6 assessed elements of best practice dementia care. As with primary care nationally and internationally, ACCHSs require co-designed support strategies to enhance their processes for dementia diagnosis and documentation and to build upon their delivery of best-practice dementia care. Priority dementia care areas for older clients with a confirmed dementia diagnosis include the evaluation of dementia-related risks such as elder abuse and driving safety, and the implementation of advance care planning including discussion or completion of relevant legal documents. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ( https://anzctr.org.au/ ): Registration Number: 12621000905864.