Advanced Dementia (1-2 days)

This course aims to equip staff with the necessary skills to meet the needs of people with Dementia, especially their psychological needs. The course uses Person-Centred approaches to enable staff to empathise with the experience of Dementia and make greater contact with people with Dementia.

This course is only suitable for those who have previously attended a Dementia awareness course.

Learning objectives:

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

• What it might be like to experience Dementia
• The communication needs of people with Dementia
• The skills required to respond to these communication needs:
        -verbal
        -non verbal
        -communication aids
• What behaviour could be seen as ‘challenging’
• What might be the source of this behaviour
• How challenging behaviour is a form of communication
• How to respond to expressed strong feelings; positive or negative
• How to respond positively to challenging behaviour
• The different realities of people with Dementia:
        -Illusions
        -Delusions
        -Hallucinations
• How to respond to these different realities
• The need to continue seeing the person as someone with diverse needs
• Appropriate occupations and activities for individuals with Dementia
• The need to promote well-being in people with Dementia
• The need to positively respond to sexual and social needs
• Working in partnership: promoting strengths whilst compensating for difficulties
• A brief update on research and treatment

Training methods:

• Tutor presentations
• Word shower method
• OHP/PowerPoint
• Role Play
• Discussion
• Handouts

CP229/5.9