Activities for People with Dementia

One of the aspects that people fear about experiencing Dementia is the potential for neglect and abuse. Whilst physical violence and cruelty is commonly a focus of scrutiny of standards of care, research suggests that many people with Dementia spend most of their time sitting, watching TV and unengaged with any meaningful activity. This has a profound effect on their quality of life and the course of the Dementia.

This course aims to highlight the need for service users to receive holistic support and to include activities that maintain skills and function; provide a quality of life and avoid many of the consequences of inactivity.

Learning objectives:

By the end of this training learners should be able to understand:

• A brief refresher of symptoms of Dementia.
• The experience of many people with Dementia inactive in support settings -References from Age Concern
• Controlling care/support; what does this mean? To include:
        -staff oppressive practice
        -how this limits self-expression
        -exacerbates frustration and aggressive responses.
        -how a ‘good’ service user is often defined by staff as the person who is immobile and quiet
• The consequences of inactivity (Small group work)
        -The psychological consequences
        -The social consequences
        -The physical consequences
        -The behavioural consequences
• How overzealous risk assessment can immobilise/disempower service users
• The impact of inactivity on the disease
• How activity can slow down the process and improve the quality of life
• Getting the balance right-safe activity
• What facilities and resources are out there and how to access these
• What can be done ‘in house’ without specialist input
• How to assess meaningful activities for service users
• Risk assessing and managing the activity
• Typical activities that have proved to be useful for people with failing memories and function, including:
        -old skills
        -familiar tasks etc.
• How to organise an activity in conjunction with the support plan

Training methods:

• Trainer presentations
• Group work
• Case study
• Handouts
• Chalk & talk
• Group discussion
• OHP/PowerPoint
• Feedback
• Small groups