What is new within staging of care for people with dementia? The IDEAL schedule and other recent work.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review provides an overview of recent progress within work centred around the 'International schedule for the integrated assessment and staging of care for dementia' (IDEAL schedule), and places it within the context of recent work around other staging models for dementia.

RECENT FINDINGS: The IDEAL schedule assesses the severity of dementia across seven dimensions. A 'Menu of care options' of recommended priorities for interventions accompanies the schedule. A user manual for the schedule has just been published. Other staging models for dementia include those based on biomarkers, such as in the recently published research framework for Alzheimer's disease by the National Institute on Aging and Alzheimer's Association (NIA-AA), or those based on specific aspects of dementia, principally cognitive impairment.

SUMMARY: The IDEAL schedule is a global staging model to guide the organization of dementia care. The schedule covers a range of domains that extend beyond cognitive functioning and include care needs; it is applicable to all types and stages of dementia; and can be used by any healthcare professional, both within clinical practice and research. The schedule is not in opposition to, or is even complementary to, other staging models for dementia.