Health Plan for Dementia in Perth, Australia

This health plan aims to raise awareness about dementia, provide risk assessment, medical advice, and free nursing services to women in Perth, Australia. The plan involves website development, awareness programs, health camps, and caregiving programs by nurses. The program aims to reduce the prevalence of dementia and increase awareness in the community. The estimated budget and time frame for the program are provided along with the evaluation and sustainability plan.

Running head: HEALTH PLAN
Health plan
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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Table of Contents
Population and health issue:............................................................................................................2
Project plan:.....................................................................................................................................3
Objectives........................................................................................................................................5
Strategies..........................................................................................................................................6
Budget estimate...............................................................................................................................6
Time estimate...................................................................................................................................7
Evaluation........................................................................................................................................8
Working in partnership with others.................................................................................................9
Sustainability...................................................................................................................................9
References:....................................................................................................................................11

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Population and health issue:
Dementia is the second leading cause of death in Australia contributing to 5.4 of all in the
males and 10.6% of all death in female each year (McKeith, 2017). Australian Bureau of
Statistics reported that in 2016, dementia became the leading cause of death amongst Australian
women suppressing the death rate of cardiovascular disease, which has been the leading cause of
death both male and female from the decade (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2018). However, a
study byHallberg et al. (2016), suggested that women are a higher risk of developing dementia
account for 64.4% of all dementia-related deaths. The recent estimation of 2018 reported that
approximately 436, 366 Australian women are either living with dementia or at higher risk of
dementia without any medical checkup (Johansson et al., 2017). Dementia describes as a
collection of symptoms associated with impaired memory and characterized by progressive
decline in thinking ability along with the physical function and behavior (Dewing &Dijk, 2016).
A considerate number of individual in Australia, especially in Perth are ignorant about dementia
due to lack of sound knowledge and awareness. Consequently, current estimation suggested that
250 people are joining the population with dementia each day in which the majority of them the
women (Miller, Whitlatch& Lyons, 2016). Another study by Jung (2015), highlighted that three
people out of 10 people are above 85 years and 10 people over 65years dementia (Brooker&
Latham, 2015). At present more than 40 million people are suffering from dementia, which
further increased economic burden and mortality rate. Therefore, with the growing concern of
dementia, researchers highlighted the need for urgent interventions focused on risk reduction
(Braden& Gaspar, 2015).

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According toGibson et al. (2016), the common symptoms of dementia are cognitive
decline. Researchers highlighted that lifestyle factors such as smoking habits, alcohol
consumptions, workplace stress, diet, and physical activities increase the risk of developing late-
life dementia and accurate interventions for the target group significantly reduces the prevalence
of dementia and in the population(McKeith, 2017).Women of more than 60 years with genetic
histories are at higher risk of developing dementia. Due to lack of sound knowledge and
awareness, the majority of the individual confuses dementia with senility in old age and refuse to
seek medical help, which increases the prevalence e of dementia followed by mortality rate
(who.int., 2018).
In 2018, Australia cost more than $ 15 billion on management and treatment of dementia.
The recent estimation by world health organization suggested that by 2025, the total cost of
dementia predicted to increase more than $18.7 billion in recent dollars (Braden& Gaspar, 2015).
Therefore, in order to resolve the issue, the federal government established national health and
medical research council’s national institutions of dementia research for ensuring the
coordination, funding, and communication for resolving the issue.
Project plan:
The prime aim of the program is to raise awareness amongst the community, risk
assessment for women of Perth over 60years who are at higher risk of developing dementia, and
provide medical advice to the family members who are suffering from higher risk of dementia
and free nursing services to the women who are unable to visit the hospital. The concept is taken
from the different health program of dementia designed world health organization. The health
program will involve raising awareness in the community through the development of a website.
According to, the significance of raising awareness by developing a website is to increase sound

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knowledge about dementia and maintaining communication between potential health
professionals and population with a significant risk of dementia. The web development team will
be recruited for developing a website with the collaboration of health professionals (who.int.,
2018) The website will be depending on how to access help and how to seek help when they will
develop symptoms, it will increase awareness within community and aid in seeking help. PR
program will be designed with the collaboration of professionals and community for greater
penetration of dementia who will provide spread awareness. The pamphlet will be distributed in
every house for spreading awareness(McKeith, 2017).
The second element of the program is risk assessment where general practitioner in every
hospital of Perth will do a risk assessment of dementia for women of 60 years or more than 60
years.
The third element of the program will be clinical advice about diagnosis, treatment,
treatment facilities and behavioral changes of dementia provided to family members of the
suffering patient who will come to the hospital for checkup and who is at higher risk of
dementia, coming to the hospital for another health issue (health.wa.gov.au., 2018). .
The fourth element of the plan will be free nursing services to the house with women
suffering from late-life dementia. The project will engage nurses and other health professionals
for reducing prevalence.
The strength of this project lies in the four elements of the project. This program offers
website development, which is a unique medium to communicate with the population and
addressing their issues. Apart from website development, the awareness program enhances social
penetration of dementia and individual will be able to seek help from the local hospital (Miller,

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Whitlatch& Lyons, 2016). Moreover, a considerate number of individual refuse to seek help due
to the higher cost of treatment and therefore this free service will help an individual with
dementia. In Australia, my aged care program offers special purpose facilities, which provide
accommodation to the individual with dementia (Braden& Gaspar, 2015). Another program
Alzheimer’s Association Campaign for Quality Residential Care provides care to individuals
with dementia. However, this project is efficient than previous programs since it will spread
awareness in the community and recruitment will be culturally competent so that no individual
will feel offended for seeking help which will in turn aid in achieving success for implementing
the program (Miller, Whitlatch& Lyons, 2016).
Objectives
First objective for this program is to raise awareness about the dementia as people are
still ignorant about dementia. To raise awareness a website will be built which will provide all
the relevant information including causes, symptoms, wrong perception, treatment plan and
relevant contact details along with free online consultation for people suffering with dementia.
Additionally, a PR program will be launched comprising both community members and medical
professionals who will provide in person information about dementia for greater penetration.
Secondly, risk assessment for the high risk (risk factors to be considered old age,
genetics) individuals will be performed by setting up health camp for free in the local community
area.
Thirdly, medical advice will be given to the families of the suffering or high risk
individual about the diagnosis, treatment, treatment facilities and behavioural changes of
dementia by medical professional specializes in dementia.

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Finally, free nursing service will be provided to the suffering individual with dementia
who are unable to visit a hospital, economically constrained, and live alone without family.
Strategies
To develop the website, a web content developing firm will be vetted and hired to
develop and run the website for one year. The same firm will be responsible for the program logo
and slogan.
Medical professionals specializes in dementia based in the locality will be identified and
hired for the content development of the website.
Advertisement will be placed in local community based newspaper for volunteers from
the local community along with leaflet distribution. Volunteers will be provided with free lunch
and travelling allowance for better response.
Local healthcare care centres and hospitals will be contacted for the information about
the suffering or high risk individuals for targeted implementation.
Local administrative authority like mayor’s office will be contacted for the location (such
as community hall) of health camp for risk assessment.
Lastly, GP’s and nurses based in locality will be contacted and hired for their services to
provide medical assessment, diagnosis and palliative care.
Budget estimate
Estimated budget for this program is provided below:
Description Duration/ Quantity Unit cost ($) Cost ($)
Website
development 1 month 3000 3000

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Website
maintenance 1 year 200/month 2400
Print media
(Advertisement,
leaflets etc.)
1 advertisement and
1000 leaflet
200 for ad and 400
for leaflet 600
Leaflet distribution - 50 50
Rent for location 6 times 1000 6000
Project co-ordinator 10 hr/ week for 24
week 20/hr 4800
Project Staff 10 hr/ week for 24
week 12/hr 2880
GP 5 hr for 6 times and
2 person 40/hr 2400
Nurses 3hr/ week for 16
week and 4 person 25/hr 4800
Miscellaneous - - 1000
Travel and transport - - 2000
Contingency - - 5000
Total Estimated Budget 34,930
Time estimate
Provisional timeline for this program is provided below:
1st – 4th 5th – 8th 9th – 12th 13th-16th 17th-20th 21st–24th
Activities Weeks Weeks Weeks Weeks Week Week
Website
Development
Awareness
Program
Health camp
Care giving
program by
nurses

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Evaluation of
program
NB: The total program duration is for 6 months but the website will be online for 1 year.
Evaluation
During the final month of the project the program will be evaluated on the basis of its
relevance and achievements in term of objectives of the project, efficiency, effectiveness,
sustainability and impact (Venable, Pries-Heje&Baskerville, 2016). An objective and systematic
assessment will be performed for the current project.
First of all, a detailed report will be provided on the barriers and obstacles faced during
the implementation of the project and whether it was overcome or not. Detailed report will be
provided on the number of individuals have been served during the program and number of
families the nurses have provided their aid.
Secondly, all the individuals participated in the program will be given a feedback form
for their experience and comments regarding the program. Along with that, GP and nurses will
also be given feedback form for their experience related to the program.
Thirdly, for awareness penetration, a detailed report about website visit count since its
inception will be provided. Every month’s visit count will be tallied to see whether visitor count
increased or decreased. Additionally, a feedback response section will be in the homepage of the
website for visitor comments and reaction.
Finally, all the data will be analysed and the evaluation of this project will be presented in
a business report format and will be supplied to all the stake holders and funding organisation of
this project.

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Working in partnership with others
Currently, various organization are working in the Perth region for the care of dementia
and it be better for this program and the local community if all the program works together and
in interconnected manner. Dementia Australia is a Western Australia state government program
and being a state sponsored program it will help this program gain better visibility and reach
(dementia.org.au., 2018). Another program working with the same goal is Dementia essential by
Alzheimer’s WA. Alzheimer is one of the main reason for dementia. By working together with
this program, this program will gain specific and expert input about Alzheimer caused dementia
Another objective of our program is to provide nursing service to the financially or socially
challenged families with dementia individual. Working with Home Care Assistance, Perth will
help this program get better traction ("Home Care Assistance, West Coast Perth", 2018). Apart
from that, this program will work closely with government authority, local community, local
healthcare centre and person with influence such as notable media or sports personality.
Sustainability
Completion of the stipulated timeframe of the program raises the question of
sustainability as the estimated cost was provided for the first six months. However, the official
website will be online for another six months. To take program further forward, fund can be
raised through the community programs and charitable events. To this extent, official website
can be used as an advertisement and PR tool. Apart from that, a plea for donation can be posted
in the website homepage. Furthermore, Australian governments has various policies to fund
project like this. Australian governments GrantConnect is one of such program ("GrantConnect:
GrantConnect Homepage", 2018). Request for fund can be applied to this initiative. Apart from
that, this program can always reapply for funding to its original funding organizations and

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stakeholders. Additionally, the project coordinator should remain as a point of contact for future
reference and endeavors.

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References:
abs.gov.au. (2018). Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved from
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/lookup/4102.0main+features102014#PERTH
%20
Braden, B. A., & Gaspar, P. M. (2015). Implementation of a baby doll therapy protocol for
people with dementia: Innovative practice. Dementia, 14(5), 696-706.
Brooker, D., & Latham, I. (2015). Person-centred dementia care: Making services better with
the VIPS framework. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
dementia.org.au. (2018). Dementia Australia. Retrieved from
https://www.dementia.org.au/support/in-your-region/wa
Dewing, J., &Dijk, S. (2016). What is the current state of care for older people with dementia in
general hospitals? A literature review. Dementia, 15(1), 106-124.
Gibson, G., Newton, L., Pritchard, G., Finch, T., Brittain, K., & Robinson, L. (2016). The
provision of assistive technology products and services for people with dementia in the
United Kingdom. Dementia, 15(4), 681-701.
grants.gov.au. (2018). GrantConnect: GrantConnect Homepage. (2018). Retrieved from
https://www.grants.gov.au/?event=public.home
Hallberg, I. R., Cabrera, E., Jolley, D., Raamat, K., Renom-Guiteras, A., Verbeek,
H., ...&Karlsson, S. (2016). Professional care providers in dementia care in eight

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European countries; their training and involvement in early dementia stage and in home
care. Dementia, 15(5), 931-957.
health.wa.gov.au. (2018). Government of Western Australia, department of health. Retrieved
from https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/Reports-and-publications
homecareassistanceperth (2018) Home Care Assistance, West Coast Perth. Retrieved from
http://www.homecareassistanceperth.com.au/
Johansson, L., Björklund, A., Sidenvall, B., &Christensson, L. (2017). Staff views on how to
improve mealtimes for elderly people with dementia living at home. Dementia, 16(7),
835-852.
Jung, C. G. (2015). Psychology of dementia praecox (Vol. 1294). Princeton University Press.
Miller, L. M., Whitlatch, C. J., & Lyons, K. S. (2016). Shared decision-making in dementia: a
review of patient and family carer involvement. Dementia, 15(5), 1141-1157.
Venable, J., Pries-Heje, J., & Baskerville, R. (2016). FEDS: a framework for evaluation in
design science research. European Journal of Information Systems, 25(1), 77-89.
who.int. (2018). Rio Political Declaration on Social Determinants of Health. Retrieved from
http://www.who.int/sdhconference/declaration/en/