Why we should focus on the Dementia IQ of the Healthcare Industry as we prepare for the impact of Dementia on the future of health care.

Introduction

As healthcare providers we often feel under equipped and overwhelmed with the demands we face from policy makers, payer sources, corporate America and our internal compass that cries out for compassion and quality service above everything else.

It is very hard to find a balance between fulfilling payor guidelines, industry protocols as well as meeting the basic needs of the persons depending on us for their wellbeing.

When we add the complications of a diagnosis of dementia, we often fail to achieve the outcomes we expected. As a result, we are faced with the consequences of elevated healthcare costs between 40% -80% higher for our persons living with dementia, as compared to their peers as it relates to common healthcare complications such as cancer, COPD, CHF, diabetes and pneumonia.

The importance of understanding the impact of cognitive decline on healthcare outcomes

It is an unfortunate fact that health care providers do not receive adequate training in assessment of cognition or on a holistic approach of brain health support and maintenance.

As caregivers (health care or others) we need to consider that cognitive ability and healthy brain function is the basis of overall well-being.

In absence of working short term memory, attention span, visio-spatial ability, orientation to task, self, place and situation, to name a few executive functions, our person living with dementia are being left behind during important health care interventions.

Elevated Dementia IQ is the ability of caregivers and health care providers to understand the basic neuro-anatomy and pathophysiology of the brain, during neuro-cognitive decline, as it relates to that person’s ability to meaningfully engage.

Meaningful engagement is the ability to connect with people, the environment and objects around us that enable us to meet our human needs. When our needs are adequately met, it allows us to age in place at the highest level of quality of life.

If our person living with dementia is not meaningfully engaged with the processes or information systems or health care methods we are presenting (for example following protocols for diet/exercise/medications/nutrition and hydration) we will not experience quality outcomes and our persons will not be able to age in place thus escalating healthcare cost.

Conclusion

Targeted dementia assessment tools and educational methods, such as the Botes Memory Method, that improves Dementia IQ, and allows caregivers and health care providers alike to engage in a meaningful way with our person living with dementia, at their level of neuro-cognitive function, will impact health care costs and health care outcomes in a positive way,