The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is calling on the Government to urgently respond to a call by doctors for a national protocol, which would provide a framework for best practice management of dementia in this country.
The call comes after findings from two national surveys of GPs showed that 70 per cent of people in this country know little or nothing about Alzheimer dementia, which shows an increase of 6 per cent in the last 3 years.
Also, 80 per cent of doctors believe that only 2 out of every 10 families are presenting early enough for diagnosis.
Around 60 per cent of GP's have expressed serious concerns over current management practices, which they believe are failing to recognise the needs of the various stakeholders involved in the process of providing care, which includes key groups such as the families, patients and those working directly in primary and secondary care.
When asked to highlight some of the key service provision gaps, 73 per cent of GP's focussed on the urgent need for greater respite care. Doctors were quick to highlight areas where acute bed shortages are adding to a mounting crisis situation, with hospital such as Merlin Park in Galway coming in for stinging criticism.
Doctors views were borne out by the findings from the consumer survey, which showed that 64 per cent of the public favour the provision of home care support in tandem with short-term respite.
Professor Brian Lawlor, Consultant Psychiatrist in Old Age, (attached to St Patrick's and St James' hospitals) who is recognised as a leading expert in this area believes that earlier diagnosis is important in helping to break the current cycle.
"People coming forward earlier will facilitate the disclosure of diagnosis, accelerate the opportunities of interventions, provide the potential for persons diagnosed to have a say in the treatment decisions, help to reverse the negative image of Alzheimer dementia and hopefully alleviate some of the fear which the public feel associated with coming forward in the 1st place," he said.
