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Article: Cognitive assessment and management program.(Aged care/Education)
- Article from:
- Australian Nursing Journal
- Article date:
- February 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Australian Nursing Federation. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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In response to concerns about the management of older, confused patients with dementia, many of whom were under constant patient observation (CPO) and/or were being chemically/physically restrained, Austin Health in Victoria has introduced the Cognitive Assessment and Management (CAM) Program.
An initial study in 2002 identified several key issues including the increasing cost of CPO; a higher number of staff/patient incidents in the aged care placement ward; increased staff sick leave and poor staff retention; and longer length of stay for patients awaiting nursing home placement. These issues all pointed to the need for a dementia specific or generic facility.