Edinburgh Napier University

  Introduction: A key element of diverse European Government’s policy development in recent years has been to ensure the human rights of people living with dementia. Whilst different European governments will create their tailored dementia strategies, all are likely to be informed by a rights-based approach. This includes recent Scottish Government Allied Health Professional (AHP) policy, which highlights the contribution of occupational therapy to people living with dementia, their families and caregivers. One ambition of which is to expect therapists to adopt and mobilise a rights-based approach to practice.

Objective: This presentation will outline how post-registration education in Scotland has responded to the need to enhance therapist’s knowledge of human rights in the context of occupational therapy dementia care, including international practice.

Approach: Informed by recent policy initiatives, a rights-based approach to dementia will first be outlined, highlighting the PANEL principles (Participation, Accountability, Non-discrimination and equality, Empowerment and Legality). Emerging from this, the development and creation of a Master’s-level rights-based dementia module, co-designed by Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and Alzheimer Scotland will be considered. This will outline how and in what way(s) people living with dementia are included in the design and delivery of rights-based learning and teaching, influencing international practice.

Practice Implications: The implications for international dementia care will be explored through the conduit of two student examples from Greece and The Philippines.

Conclusion: Working in partnership with higher education, existing policy can influence current and future international practice, to enhance outcomes for those living with dementia, their families and caregivers.