Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service - Service Provision Document

The role of the Dementia Behaviour Management Service (DBMAS) is to improve the quality of life of people with dementia and their carer where the behaviour of the person with dementia impacts their care. DBMAS provides clinical interventions to help aged care staff and carers improve their care of people with Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD).

In this section:

The aim of DBMAS is to build the capacity of health professionals and carers so they gain increased knowledge and confidence in understanding the needs of people with dementia presenting with BPSD.

On 20 April 2012 the Australian Government announced additional support for people with dementia under the Living Longer Living Better Aged Care Reform Package. As part of the reform, the scope of DBMAS will be expanded into the acute and primary care settings to assist care workers and health care professionals in those settings to better care for people with dementia presenting with BPSD.

Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia

BPSD are defined by the International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA) Taskforce on BPSD (1996) as ‘symptoms of disturbed perception, thought content, mood, behaviour frequently occurring in patients with dementia. BPSD occur at different levels of severity with the stages of disease progression.

Core Service Elements (CSEs)

1. Provide information and advice

DBMAS provides :

Information and advice related to dementia and related behaviours through a variety of channels such as the DBMAS Telephone Assistance Line, face-to-face and web based communication;
Referral pathways to relevant health or emergency services; and
Information to clients regarding other health services, including the National Dementia Helpline and other health service entry points.

2. Undertake assessments and short term case management including mentoring and modelling behaviour management techniques

All DBMAS providers:

Receive and assess referrals for support from clients;
Undertake comprehensive assessments of people with dementia presenting with BPSD and their environment;
Develop care and management plans;
Provide access to short term case management;
Provide clinical supervision, mentoring and modelling behaviour management techniques to carers and care staff, at a case-specific level, to assist in the management of people with dementia presenting with BPSD; and
Support and mentor family carers.

3. Deliver tailored information and education workshops

All DBMAS providers:

Develop and coordinate information and educational resources;
Coordinate and deliver information and education activities, including workshops, formal and informal education through community education sessions and support groups, and information events and activities to promote dementia behaviour management strategies and support services; and
Promote and coordinate information and education activities in collaboration with government funded dementia training services/programs and other relevant training programs.

4. Develop and maintain linkages

DBMAS take a lead role in facilitating and developing stakeholder linkages and collaborative arrangements. This includes regular meetings, newsletters, information sessions and other activities such as referral and formal collaborative arrangements.

DBMAS maintains linkages with:

Dementia Training and Study Centres;
Dementia Collaborative Research Centres;
Aged Care Assessment Teams;
Mental health services;
Residential and community aged care services;
Key personnel in acute and primary care settings;
Alzheimer’s Australia; and
Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres.

5. Facilitate the use of brokerage funds

DBMAS are allocated brokerage funds which can be used to provide short-term interventions and direct services, based on the needs identified by DBMAS staff and other health services. Each DBMAS provider must develop a process for the management of brokerage funds.

The range of uses for which brokerage funds may be allocated is at the discretion of the DBMAS, provided that such uses are within the Project Aims, and consider the obligations of aged care providers under the Aged Care Act 1997. Examples of the broad range of permissible uses of the brokerage funds are:

Provision of security arrangements (beyond that ordinarily provided) to minimise wandering of a person or persons as part of the broader support and advice provided by DBMAS to services to improve their quality of care;
Purchase of a pool of equipment, e.g. for occupational/diversion therapy, loaned to services for a specific period, for use by trained staff, and for DBMAS clients;
Purchase of training/educational material for use in working with staff of residential or community services; and
Engagement of clinical professionals to provide short term, intensive assessment, care planning, case management or education and training services. In these circumstances DBMAS should take the steps necessary to ensure that the professionals engaged are appropriately qualified and skilled for the services for which they are engaged.

DBMAS offers 24 hour a day telephone support call 1800 699 799 (Free local call. Calls from mobile and pay phones may incur extra charges).

Service Model

DBMAS utilise a Service Model which suits the characteristics of the state/territory in which it operates. Service delivery models include:

Central service with regional services;
Central service with outposted staff in regional locations;
Central service with regional presence through partner organisations; and
One central service.

Special Needs Groups

Groups with special needs often have difficulty accessing dementia care services. DBMAS provides support for people living in rural and remote areas, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with younger onset dementia, veterans and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.

For additional information please see dbmas.org.au or call the DBMAS 24 hour telephone support line on 1800 699 799.
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