Principles for nursing practice : advanced dementia

![CDATA[Worldwide there is much evidence to suggest that recognising dementia as a chronic disease through awareness, early diagnosis, good management and research, is paramount to providing effective care (Alzheimer's Disease International 2015). Dementia is becoming an increasingly burdensome health issue in both Australia and New Zealand. This burden is felt even more so by specific Australians, such as those from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island backgrounds (ATSI), with three to five times as many ATSI people experiencing dementia as within the general population (Flicker & Holdsworth 2014). An ATSI summit held by Alzheimer's Australia and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dementia Advisory Group (2015) identified that there are few services located within communities and mainstream service delivery does not identify cultural connection as key to service delivery. This places people with dementia from ATSI communities at an increased risk of further social isolation. Furthermore, a very low level of culturally appropriate residential care is available for ATS! communities, with mainstream services ill equipped to provide culturally appropriate care (Alzheimer's Australia and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dementia Advisory Group 2015).]]