Table 2 Professional care providers’ educational level in dementia care in Sweden, according to ISCED [11]
From: Dementia care and service systems – a mapping system tested in nine Swedish municipalities
ISCED LEVEL: | General health care training | Specialized health care training | Specialized training in dementia |
|---|---|---|---|
7: Master’s or equivalent, vocational | Dentist (DE) investigates, treats diseases and injuries in the teeth and jaws. The treatment can range from prevention and disease treatment, to extensive and technologically advanced clinical interventions. Dietician (DI) provides nutritional counselling, prevention and treatment Medical doctor (MD), investigate, treat and prevent diseases and other health problems at hospitals and health centres, in the pharmaceutical industry or occupational health services. Psychologist (psychol) provides counselling and help to people with psychological problems. Physiotherapist (PT) provides rehabilitation to identify and improve, e.g., disabled movement and function. Social worker (SW) provides staff management for residential care or home help service. Speech therapist (ST) treat communication problems due to language, speech and voice disturbance including diagnostics and treatment of swallowing disorders. | General practitioner (GP) physician who treats patients within a district for all types of diseases. Medical doctor-internal medicine (MD-int) specialized in internal medicine. Medical doctor-neurology (MD-neuro) specialized in neurology. Training in dementia is normally part of their special training. Medical doctor-psychiatry (MD-psych)/Old Age Psychiatrist specialized in psychiatry. Training in dementia is normally part of their special training. Psychologist-neuro (psychol-neuro) psychologists specialized in cognitive neuroscience, behaviour and brain function. Administer neuropsychological tests. | Medical doctor-geriatrics (MD-ger) geriatrician or psycho- geriatrician specialized in geriatrics. Occupational therapist (OT-dem) Specialized in dementia (1 year Master). Physiotherapist (PT-dem) is specialized in dementia (1 year Master). Registered nurse (RN dem) has the overall responsibility for dementia care in an area/municipality. Provides counselling, supervision, and assessments, and mediates contacts. Education at advanced level: Care of the elderly (1-year Master), District nurse (1-year Master), Psychiatric care (1-year Master), Dementia (1-year Master). |
6: Bachelor’s or equivalent, vocational | Case manager (CM) see “Specialized health care training”. Dietician (DI) provides nutritional counselling, prevention and treatment. Occupational therapist (OT) provides rehabilitation to achieve optimum level of functional ability. This may include adaptation of the home and providing aids and equipment to assist with managing everyday activities. Registered nurse (RN) provides care and service including help with PADLs, medical treatments, and managing the nursing care team. Physiotherapist (PT) provides rehabilitation to identify and improve, e.g., disabled movement and function. Social worker (SW) provides staff management for residential care or home help service. Speech therapist (ST) treat communication problems due to language, speech and voice disturbance including diagnostics and treatment of swallowing disorders. | Case manager (CM) professional (RN or SW) function that may include finding and outreach, comprehensive assessment and care planning, coordination of service, service provision, monitoring, and evaluation, and, in addition, meeting special care needs Community psychiatric registered nurse (RN-comm-psych) supports older people at home and in nursing/residential homes. Specialized in psychiatry Home help officer (HO) carries out needs assessment prior to decision about home services and care | Occupational therapist (OT-dem) is specialized in dementia. Physiotherapist (PT-dem) is specialized in dementia. Registered nurse (RN dem) has an overall responsibility for dementia care in an area/municipality. Provides counselling, supervision, and assessments, and mediates contacts. Education at advanced level: Care of the elderly (1-year Master), Primary care (1-year Master), and Psychiatric care (1-year Master). |
5: Short-cycle tertiary education, vocational | Dental hygienist (DH) helps prevention by brushing and polishing the teeth as well as removing plaques. A dental hygienist may diagnose and treat caries, inflammation and dental loss. | State examined nurses specialized in dementia care (SEN dem) not Bachelor’s level. | |
4: Post-secondary non-tertiary, vocational | Licensed practical nurse (LPN)/Auxiliary nurse (Aux-N) provides care and service including help with IADLs and PADLs, and, in addition, minor medical treatment. Health care trained at secondary school level. | ||
3: Upper secondary, vocational | Nurse aid/assistant nurse (Ass-N) provides care and service including help with IADLs and PADLs. Health care trained for < 6 months. Support worker (Supp-work) home carer, psychological supporter, or home trainer paid at enhanced nursing assistant/home carer rate. Social care/nursing trained at secondary level or trained on the job. | Caregiver coordinator (CC) a professional coordinating care for people with dementia and informal caregivers. | |
< 3 | Occupational therapist assistant (OT-ass) performs similar tasks as the OT. Not trained, or trained on the job. Social worker assistant (SW-ass) performs similar tasks as the SW. Not trained, or trained on the job. |