ACL in the Residential Aged Care Setting
Question:
I am currently working in residential aged care allied health team as an OT. My OT colleagues who have completed your training and use the ACLS regularly, promote the use of this tool also for people with mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
What are your thoughts on using the ACLS in residential aged care? There are few studies available for its use outside of the pure mental health domain. I also struggle to understand the real difference between cognitive impairment in terms of just a "mental health" domain or a "specific area of cognition" domain - as difficulties with thinking results from the brain being unable to operate in its most healthy and full capacity? - Or would you not agree with this? Keen to know your thoughts - and if training in this is suitable for my knowledge and use in RACF. Thank you!
Response:
I used this assessment extensively in an older persons mental health team and found it very useful. There is a nursing home in Sydney - Sir Moses Montefiore Nursing Home that uses the model. There are several in the US as well. I have attached a few articles and some links below about aged care and the Allen Cognitive Disabilities Model.
An Allen-Cognitive Approach Improves the Care We Provide - buildingtherapyleaders.com