RESUMO
Very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) have low prevalence but disproportionately poor outcomes for persons with dementia, others and systems of care, including inappropriate use of medication, tenuous accommodation, poor quality of life and increased costs. The Australian Government has established new Special Dementia Care Programmes (SDCPs) to provide interim care for up to 12 months for those with severe and persistent BPSD unsuitable for mainstream aged care. This 10-year retrospective review describes environmental design, governance, clinical processes, characteristics and outcomes for 80 residents of a similar-aged care mental health partnership SDCP. A key finding was that average length of stay was slightly over 12 months. All surviving residents except one were able to be transferred to mainstream aged care services. Doses of regular and PRN antipsychotic and anxiolytic medications were significantly reduced. SDCPs may have the potential to improve care and outcomes for this group of vulnerable older people.