DEM-SKY

Delivering dementia screening to older adults within Makueni County, Kenya
Farmers in rural Kenya

DEM-SKY

Delivering dementia screening to older adults within Makueni County, Kenya
Title: Delivering dementia screening to older adults within Makueni County, Kenya (DEM-SKY)
Funded by: Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative
Funding amount: $350,000
Location: Kenya
Dates: 2023–2025 
Co-Is: Dr Nicolas Farina (University of Plymouth) and Professor David Ndetei (Africa Mental Health Foundation)
In Kenya, many people are currently living with dementia without a formal diagnosis or support; often attributing symptoms to normal ageing, a consequence of past behaviours, e.g., stealing from a home that has been protected by witchcraft or being cursed. 
Dementia screening is not common within Kenya and healthcare workers are not well equipped to detect dementia in patients. Improving the supply (or opportunity) of dementia screening within the region may promote uptake, thus leading to more people to seek a formal diagnosis and subsequently receive support within the Kenyan healthcare system. 

Aims

Community Healthcare Workers (CHWs) have successfully demonstrated their value in delivering health interventions within Kenya and have strong links within local communities. 
Through leveraging this resource, we will deliver dementia screening to older adults (≥60 years) within Makueni County, Kenya over a six-month period. 

Purpose

The purpose of the project is to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of the study by understanding the adoption, implementation and continuation of the study, using questionnaires and interviews on the study participants. 
Through gaining perspectives of different stakeholders involved in the programme (i.e., older adults, CHWs, hospital staff and trainers), it ensures that we understand the reason for successful (or unsuccessful) delivery.

A centre for dementia research excellence

The University of Plymouth's Community and Primary Care Research Centre (CPCRC) is targeting dementia as one of its key research themes. We are at the forefront of advancing dementia research, with a focus on improving the support and quality of life of people with dementia and their carers. 
The Centre's research is often directed towards those individuals who are the most excluded or disempowered, have mental health problems and have difficulty accessing services. 
Health carer holding hands of an elderly patient