Discuss the role of teamwork in improving
the health and quality of life for people
with dementia
The role of teamwork around an individual with dementia is very important in how the health
and quality of life of the individual is effected – either positively or negatively. This report will
explain and discuss some of the different teamwork options available within health and social
care, how it effects the individual with dementia if done properly, and how it effects the
individual if it isn’t done properly.
Dieticians are often provided to people who suffer with dementia because the individual tends
to become undernourished, possibly due to a lack of concern for their personal health and
wellbeing. They can create a unique meal plan for them, to ensure that they are receiving a
healthy and balanced diet to help improve any dietary issues they may be facing. Domiciliary
carers are a type of carer who visits the service user’s home to help assist them with anything
they may need – such as helping them take medication, helping them wash, make their meals
and go shopping for them. If the individual requires a dietician to help aid them, they will often
work with the domiciliary carers to ensure they have all of the food advised for them – by the
dietician – and to make sure they are eating it properly. If the individual’s family insists on
buying the service user’s food shopping, for example, and they are not following the correct
meal plan, or if the service user doesn’t want to eat the food that is good for them, it is the
domiciliary carer’s responsibility to communicate with their dietician, to let them know what is
occurring, so they can come up with a solution which will benefit the service user with
dementia. If the teamwork is successful and effective between the dietician and the domiciliary
carers’ of the individual with dementia, it will ensure the effectiveness of the dietary advice
given to them, meaning the health and nourishment of the individual is improved. If they
become well-nourished due to the teamwork of the two professionals, then it will mean their
cells – throughout their whole body – becomes healthier. Dementia is when the person’s brain
cells are dying, so if their body cells become healthier it may mean that the death of their brain
cells will die off slower – meaning they are able to remain themselves for longer, remain
independent for longer and generally be happy for longer. As a result of this, it will improve
both the health and quality of life for people with dementia. However, if the teamwork between
the domiciliary carer and the dietician is ineffective, then it may mean that the individual’s
health and lack of nutrition will deteriorate further, which can worsen the effects of dementia
(e.g. movement difficulties, depression) which can negatively affect their health and social life
even further, because it can increase the risk of injury and pull them away from family and
friends. It is important the teamwork between the individual’s domiciliary carer and their
dietician is effective to ensure that their health and quality of life is improved as much as
possible between the two, and not worsened.
Hospitals and GP’s of the individuals with dementia also work together on improving the health
and quality of life of those service users’ suffering from dementia. When individual’s first
suspect they have early on-set dementia (e.g. the family members’ could be worried, so they
want to help them), most of the time they will book an appointment with their GP, so they can
help them further with their worries of concerns. After this, if the GP comes to the conclusion
that it sounds like they could have early on-set dementia, they will refer the individual to
hospital to a dementia specialist to get correctly diagnosed. The GP will pass on any relevant
the health and quality of life for people
with dementia
The role of teamwork around an individual with dementia is very important in how the health
and quality of life of the individual is effected – either positively or negatively. This report will
explain and discuss some of the different teamwork options available within health and social
care, how it effects the individual with dementia if done properly, and how it effects the
individual if it isn’t done properly.
Dieticians are often provided to people who suffer with dementia because the individual tends
to become undernourished, possibly due to a lack of concern for their personal health and
wellbeing. They can create a unique meal plan for them, to ensure that they are receiving a
healthy and balanced diet to help improve any dietary issues they may be facing. Domiciliary
carers are a type of carer who visits the service user’s home to help assist them with anything
they may need – such as helping them take medication, helping them wash, make their meals
and go shopping for them. If the individual requires a dietician to help aid them, they will often
work with the domiciliary carers to ensure they have all of the food advised for them – by the
dietician – and to make sure they are eating it properly. If the individual’s family insists on
buying the service user’s food shopping, for example, and they are not following the correct
meal plan, or if the service user doesn’t want to eat the food that is good for them, it is the
domiciliary carer’s responsibility to communicate with their dietician, to let them know what is
occurring, so they can come up with a solution which will benefit the service user with
dementia. If the teamwork is successful and effective between the dietician and the domiciliary
carers’ of the individual with dementia, it will ensure the effectiveness of the dietary advice
given to them, meaning the health and nourishment of the individual is improved. If they
become well-nourished due to the teamwork of the two professionals, then it will mean their
cells – throughout their whole body – becomes healthier. Dementia is when the person’s brain
cells are dying, so if their body cells become healthier it may mean that the death of their brain
cells will die off slower – meaning they are able to remain themselves for longer, remain
independent for longer and generally be happy for longer. As a result of this, it will improve
both the health and quality of life for people with dementia. However, if the teamwork between
the domiciliary carer and the dietician is ineffective, then it may mean that the individual’s
health and lack of nutrition will deteriorate further, which can worsen the effects of dementia
(e.g. movement difficulties, depression) which can negatively affect their health and social life
even further, because it can increase the risk of injury and pull them away from family and
friends. It is important the teamwork between the individual’s domiciliary carer and their
dietician is effective to ensure that their health and quality of life is improved as much as
possible between the two, and not worsened.
Hospitals and GP’s of the individuals with dementia also work together on improving the health
and quality of life of those service users’ suffering from dementia. When individual’s first
suspect they have early on-set dementia (e.g. the family members’ could be worried, so they
want to help them), most of the time they will book an appointment with their GP, so they can
help them further with their worries of concerns. After this, if the GP comes to the conclusion
that it sounds like they could have early on-set dementia, they will refer the individual to
hospital to a dementia specialist to get correctly diagnosed. The GP will pass on any relevant
