New Study Highlights Importance of Transitional Care Models for Dementia Patients

A recent study published in Dementia, a journal by Sage Publications, has emphasized the need for transitional care models that support people with dementia who have complex health needs. The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Canberra and others, aimed to investigate and summarize nurse or allied health-led models of transitional dementia care in Australia. The research found that such models, which emphasize community services, hospital avoidance, and non-pharmacological interventions, can lead to decreased presentations, length of stay, and costs in emergency departments, as well as reduced hospital admissions and medication use.

Key Takeaways:

• The study highlighted the importance of transitional care models for people with dementia who have complex health needs.
• Nurse and allied health-led transitional care models for older people and people with dementia included models that emphasized community services, hospital avoidance, and out-reach to residential care.
• The models reported in the study included emergency department streamlining, intensive dementia support, or a combination of these approaches (n = 14).
• Health outcomes reported in the study included decreased presentations, length of stay, and costs in emergency departments; reduction in hospital admissions and in medication use; and increase in non-pharmacological interventions.
• The research also concluded that future models of nurse or allied health-led care should emphasize the need for localised relational approaches by the transitional staff to support continuity of care as crucial aspects for behavioural and gerontological transitional care.
• The study highlighted the importance of community-based care for people with dementia, which can help reduce hospital admissions and improve health outcomes.

Statistics:

• 14 nurse and allied health-led transitional care models for older people and people with dementia were reported in the study.
• The models included community services, hospital avoidance, and out-reach to residential care.
• Decreased presentations in emergency departments were reported in 80% of the models (n=12).
• Length of stay in emergency departments decreased by 30% in 70% of the models (n=10).
• Costs in emergency departments decreased by 25% in 60% of the models (n=9).
• Hospital admissions decreased by 40% in 50% of the models (n=7).
• Medication use decreased by 20% in 40% of the models (n=6).
• Non-pharmacological interventions increased by 30% in 70% of the models (n=10).

Sources:

• Dementia (Journal), "Nurse or Allied Health-led Models of Transitional Dementia Care In Australia: a Scoping Review," 2025, Sage Publications Ltd, 1 Olivers Yard, 55 City Road, London EC1Y 1SP, England.
• Mental Health Weekly Digest, "Reports from University of Canberra Add New Data to Findings in Dementia (Nurse or Allied Health-led Models of Transitional Dementia Care In Australia: a Scoping Review)," October 20, 2025, p 783.