Healthcare Professionals for People Living with a NCD

Person-Centred Care

As a healthcare professional, your expertise is essential in the care of people diagnosed with a neurocognitive disorder. Your support and care, as well as your knowledge of neurocognitive disorder organizations and resources are invaluable to your patients and their caregivers.

Refer Your Patients and Their Caregivers to the Right Resources

Thanks to the First Link® program, you can refer your patients to their local Alzheimer Society.

Thanks to Référence Aidance Québec, you can refer a caregiver to specialists who will offer solutions adapted to their situation.

Learn More About Preventing A Neurocognitive Disorder

In this short video presented by Dr. Louis Bherer, discover the key factors in prevention.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Early Diagnosis Essential in Treating A neurocognitive disorder?

Early diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease is encouraged for many reasons:

  1. Better management of symptoms: Early diagnosis means earlier treatment, which can help slow disease progression and better manage symptoms.
  2. Planning for the future: It allows patients and their families time to plan for the future, make informed decisions about the course of treatment, support, and legal and financial matters.
  3. Access to resources and support: Patients and their families can access resources and support services more quickly, which can improve their quality of life and reduce stress.
  4. Active participation in care: People affected by a neurocognitive disorder can become more actively involved in decisions about their care, which can improve their sense of control and well-being.
  5. Reduced risk: Early diagnosis can help prevent complications, such as driving accidents, medication errors and financial difficulties.

 

In short, encouraging early diagnosis not only makes it easier to manage the disease, but also improves quality of life for patients and their caregivers.

Discover how you can be your patients’ best ally by taking a proactive approach to the early detection of a neurocognitive disorder.

Person-Centred Care (PCC) is a psychotherapy and helping relationship method developed by psychologist Carl Rogers. More than a simple technique, this approach is a manner of being that draws on every human being’s natural tendency to find fulfillment as a person. For a person to develop positively and constructively, they must evolve in a favourable environment.

Thus, the therapist or healthcare staff using the person-centred approach provides a supportive environment to the person receiving care with three main attitudes:

Empathy: The therapist must be capable of understanding the patient’s inner self by putting themselves in his or her place.

Authenticity: The therapist must express themselves openly and clearly when interacting with the patient.

Non-judgment: The therapist must accept and value the patient, regardless of their condition and without judgment.

To find out more, visit the Institut de Formation de l’Approche Centrée sur la Personne website.

The Alzheimer Society of Montreal advocates for person-centred care.

During each intervention, our professionals value the person living with a neurocognitive disorder and encourage them to use their abilities to participate in various activities. Our professionals use person-centred care to improve the quality of life for these people and their caregivers by fostering a respectful and collaborative relationship.

Implementation in the Home Environment

Person-centred care can be applied in various contexts, including the home environment. healthcare professionals and caregivers can use it with their patients by collecting their history.

About Me Booklet

We invite you to share this booklet with people living with a neurocognitive disorder and their families. It is designed to record the diagnosed person’s values and life habits. It is an invaluable tool for caregivers and healthcare professionals, enabling them to offer people living with a neurocognitive disorder a care pathway adapted to their values, culture and interests.

Offering resources to a neurocognitive disorder patients and their caregivers is essential for several reasons:

  1. Emotional support: Being diagnosed with a neurocognitive disorder such as Alzheimer’s disease can be devastating. Adequate resources can provide emotional support and help manage stress and anxiety.
  2. Information and education: Resources help to better understand the illness, its symptoms and progression. Proper understanding leads to making informed decisions about care and treatment.
  3. Access to care and services: Resources can guide patients and their families to the appropriate care services, such as support groups, respite services and symptom management programs.
    Consult the National Dementia Guidelines for disclosing a diagnosis.
    Consult Orientations ministérielles sur les troubles neurocognitifs majeurs — Phase 3. [Ministry guidelines on major neurocognitive disorders—Phase 3]
  4. Planning and preparation: Early diagnosis and access resources allow families to plan for the future, make legal and financial arrangements, and prepare an appropriate care environment.
  5. Improving quality of life: By providing information on available treatments and symptom management strategies, resources can help improve patients’ quality of life and prolong their independence.

 

Check out Dr. Paolo Vitali, MD, Ph.D., FRCPC’s recommendations on the pre-and post-diagnosis approach.

Dre Marie-Pierre Thibodeau, MD, FRCPC, explains how a multidisciplinary approach enables better support for families affected by a neurocognitive disorder.

How we talk about Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders can make a difference in the lives of those diagnosed and their loved ones. The language used can either make these individuals feel accepted and equal to others or reinforce stigma and discrimination. The words we choose and behaviours we adopt can have a certain influence on how people with a diagnosis feel they are perceived.

Use this fact sheet to learn the terms to avoid and language to prioritize.

Ambiguous loss differs from grief following death, as it cannot be fully resolved before the person dies. The person is living but is no longer as they once were. However, regardless of their abilities, there is always a core part of their personality that can be recognized at all stages of the disease.

Gain a better understanding of ambiguous loss with this guide for healthcare professionals.

While the grief experienced by healthcare workers differs from that of family members, it is no less real.

To learn how healthcare workers can effectively manage grief and mourning, and how to support your colleagues and employees during challenging times, refer to this guide.

Training and Conferences

The Alzheimer Society of Montreal’s Educational Services has developed a comprehensive program of training courses and conferences tailored to healthcare professionals working in residences.

To find out more or to contact our Educational Services team, visit the Services for healthcare providers and organizations page.

We Are Here for You!

Our team is always available to support you in your practice. Contact us today.

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