Content area
Abstract
Speech language pathologists (SLPs) are among the qualified health care professionals to work within interdisciplinary dementia care teams and provide a number of non-pharmacological services to benefit persons living with dementia (PLWD) and their caregivers throughout the care continuum (Banovic et al., 2018; Bourgeois, 2019; Krein et al.., 2019; Lanzi et al., 2021). Yet, little is known about the current trends in service delivery by SLPs and perceptions from PLWD and their caregivers regarding the speech-language management of dementia.
Accordingly, the current study investigated the current practices of SLPs working with PLWD and the perspectives from PLWD and informal caregivers regarding their access to and views of speech-language and support services in the U.S. and U.K. This internationally collected information identified contemporary barriers to the dementia management process and examined patterns in service delivery and uptake.
The SLP participants (U.S., n = 186; U.K., n = 26) completed a 36-item, pilot tested, survey, covering their practice with PLWD, including caseload characteristics, assessment, treatment, post-qualification training, and barriers to service delivery. Additionally, dyads of PLWD (U.S., n = 13; U.K., n = 14) and informal caregivers (U.S., n = 11; U.K., n = 11) completed a two-part, pilot tested survey regarding dementia and changes in communication, use and perception of SLP services, other support service use, desired types, and timing of access to communication related support services, and barriers to SLP service use.
The findings serve as a foundation for understanding current service delivery to PLWD from SLPs in the U.S. and U.K. Among other findings, the lack of awareness for the role of SLPs in dementia management from both health care professionals and the public, was an overarching theme and substantial barrier which emerged from SLPs, PLWD, and informal caregivers in both countries. More research is necessary to further understand the complexities of these barriers and specifics in delivery and uptake of care for PLWD. However, SLPs must continue to advocate for their role in managing the cognitive-communicative disorders of dementia and within collaborative dementia care teams.
