POPLPRAC 767 : Dementia Care

Medical and Health Sciences

2025 Semester Two (1255) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A clinically focused course that explores dementia within three specific areas; the brain, the diseases, and the person. It explores theoretical concepts and models of dementia care, and focuses on the partnership of individuals, carers and health professionals in the delivery of dementia care.

Course Overview

Dementia Care - Mate Wareware

With an ageing population more people are reaching advanced old age and with this comes an increased risk of developing dementia. Whilst the advances in understanding the organic changes and processes in the brain associated with dementia contribute to changes in treatment and management of the disease, health professionals should be committed to providing care centred around the person with dementia and their whanau/family or carer.
The focus of this course is to prepare health practitioners for advanced professional practice in the specialty of dementia care and is open to health professionals working with people with dementia or wanting to increase their knowledge.
This course will provide you with a specialty body of knowledge including an understanding of the brain, the disease, the person and their environment as well as an appreciation of the current issues and debates in this field of study.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Course Contacts

COURSE DIRECTOR
Dr Kathy Peri
Email: k.peri@auckland.ac.nz
COURSE ADMINISTRATOR
Riz Sari
Email: r.sari@auckland.ac.nz 

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Master of Health Practice

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Explore the neuro-anatomical changes of the brain and the neuro-biological processes involved in memory and cognitive functions. (Capability 3.2, 4.1 and 5.2)
  2. Critically review the epidemiology of dementia including prevalence, incidence and risk factors. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 4.1, 5.2 and 8.2)
  3. Explore and analyse the different subtypes of dementia and address critical care and service delivery issues. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.2 and 8.2)
  4. Evaluate the current evidence of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment for dementia (Capability 1.2, 3.2, 4.1, 5.2 and 6.1)
  5. Develop an advanced understanding of multidisciplinary perspectives about dementia and approaches to dementia care including person-centeredness (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.2, 7.1 and 8.1)
  6. Examine and describe advancements in dementia care across settings (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 25% Individual Coursework
Assignments 25% Individual Coursework
Assignments 40% Individual Coursework
Discussions 10% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Assignments
Assignments
Assignments
Discussions

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30 point course and students are expected to spend 20 hours per week involved in each 30 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 35 hours of lectures,  153 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 152 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course will include live online events including group discussions.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a block delivery.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

No changes will be required. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.