ABOUT THE PROGRAM
In 2012, with funding from the NSW Department of Family and Community Services, the Dementia Collaborative Research Centre - Assessment and Better Care (DCRC) piloted a Research Capacity Building initiative titled the Dementia Services Evaluation Grants (DSEG) Program. The aim of the DSEG Program was to build research capacity among frontline community-based dementia care workers and develop the evidence for quality services for both people with dementia and their carers. Eleven organisations participated in an 18-month research/evaluation project and while successful, this model was resource-intensive and availability of funding meant that only small numbers were able to participate.
Using our experiences and successes from the DSEG Program, we have developed the Dementia SPEAKE Program. This program has been designed to provide a basic introduction to evaluation knowledge and skills to support implementation of evaluation into the services you provide.
Using our experiences and successes from the DSEG Program, we have developed the Dementia SPEAKE Program. This program has been designed to provide a basic introduction to evaluation knowledge and skills to support implementation of evaluation into the services you provide.
DSEG PROGRAM TESTIMONIALS
- “Findings of [the program] research now forms the basis of a submission by Carer Support Unit at [the Local Health District] to conduct formal research / pilot program and expand [another program] to encompass people with dementia and their carer.” (CEO, not-for-profit organisation)
- “Since we finished the evaluation, we decided to use the findings to improve our services… As a result of that [our organisation] developed a kit for carers/clients that has help notes (language specific) from Alzheimer’s Australia, a list of services/brochures about services around the areas that we cover like day care centres and other services.” (Coordinator/Case Manager, religious welfare agency)
- “There is a shift towards greater accountability and reporting of outputs and outcomes that is influencing practice – albeit slowly. One of the additional benefits of conducting this evaluation (and others) has been that we have been able to provide evidence of this practice when we have had an accreditation review.” (General Manager, charity)
- “Largely the results of the evaluation supported the continuation of [our program], and the need for a further comprehensive evaluation to determine the health outcomes of people who access early memory assessment and potentially the cost savings to the acute health sector. ... The evaluation supported the continuation of the use of [the tools we had in place prior to the DSEG evaluation] and highlighted the importance of assessing carers during the memory assessment process.” (Clinical Coordinator, Medicare Local)
- “Although we have not been able to do much in the way of follow up from our evaluation of [our programs], I have presented the information at a few conferences… This has led to a number of enquiries from various service providers… So I believe the main outcome of our involvement with the DSEG has been that it has given [our programs] a legitimacy and status as a recognised form of effective service provision for people with dementia and their carers that they would perhaps not have had otherwise.” (Dementia Advisor, hospital)