Supporting people with dementia in practice

Dispensing optician, Elaine Grisdale, provided practical tips on how optometry practice staff can create a more welcoming environment for those with dementia during her presentation at the Specsavers Professional Advancement Conference (14 September, Birmingham International Convention Centre).

Grisdale shared with delegates that there are 55 million people globally living with dementia.

“Those are people with an official diagnosis. It is estimated that there are another 40% without a diagnosis,” Grisdale said.

She added that vision and hearing impairment are the most common comorbidities among those with dementia, while around 70% of people with the condition live at home.

“Because they live at home, they are more likely to be popping into practice for a sight test,” Grisdale said.

She shared that people often have preconceived ideas about people with dementia.

“They picture someone sitting in an armchair staring out the window who doesn’t know what’s happening,” Grisdale highlighted.

However, she emphasised that there can be a long time between the onset of symptoms and late-stage dementia.

“There are different abilities and different degrees of cognitive failure,” Grisdale said.

She encouraged practitioners to take a kind and flexible approach with people who have dementia.

For example, someone with the condition may present at practice at the wrong time or on the wrong day.

“Coming into town for an appointment can cause a lot of anxiety. They may have been preparing for hours to get to you,” Grisdale said.

“Please don’t turn them away – it’s not the kind thing to do,” she said.

Grisdale observed that dementia can affect someone’s judgement, so practitioners should keep this in mind if they receive an out-of-character request – for example, if they ask for multiple pairs of glasses when they would normally only have one pair.

“Maybe suggest that starting with one pair would be preferable, and they can go from there,” she said.

She highlighted that for some people being shown a large number of frames can be overwhelming – so taking a patient through a limited selection of glasses may be preferable to a frame bar.

For example, the practitioner could take a step-by-step approach to selecting colour, style and material.

Grisdale encouraged practitioners to address the patient rather than a relative or carer, and to speak at a normal pace and volume.

Dementia can cause issues misplacing items, Grisdale shared, so practitioners may consider recommendations that could help with this issue – for example, glasses chains or brightly coloured cases.

Paying attention to noise levels within practice can also help to put people at ease.

“You might take the patient to a quieter waiting area and give them time to calm down and settle,” Grisdale said.

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