1 of 15

1

Dementia Awareness Course

2 of 15

2

Course Objectives

At the end of the session care workers will:

Understand how to improve care delivered to people with dementia
Understand how to support relationships of people with dementia
List reasons for behaviour we may find difficult
List the different types of dementia
Understand what it may be like to have dementia.

3 of 15

3

What is dementia?

What does this mean?

Who gets dementia?

What causes dementia?.

Dementia

4 of 15

4

What is dementia?

5 of 15

5

Who gets Dementia?

6 of 15

6

7 of 15

7

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms are never the same and never follow a set pattern, but they do include:

Unable to remember things
Unable to make an important decision
Unable to look after themselves
Difficulty in expressing thoughts
Difficulty in understanding instructions
Unable to find their way around familiar surroundings.

Dementia

8 of 15

8

Types of Dementia

9 of 15

9

The importance of early detection and diagnosis:

Clear up uncertainty
Help the individual and their family / friends to plan
Identify possible treatments and therapies
Provide the right information, resources and support.

Dementia

10 of 15

10

Dementia

CASE STUDY

Mr X has been admitted to hospital, he has spent the last hour in casualty waiting for a bed and arrives on the ward at 23-00hrs he has had a small stroke. He has a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. The lights are dimmed on the ward because most of the patients have already settled to sleep. The employees are busy with 2 patients who are unwell

The nurse in charge asks one of the care assistants to help Mr X get comfortable and help him into bed; this requires assisting him to change into his pyjamas

The care assistant comes away from the side room and greets Mr X. She makes sure he is safely at his bed and she will be back in a few minutes to assist him to get changed and as she leaves she pulls the screens around his bed

When the care assistant returns and enters she finds Mr X asleep. She wakes him and begins to assist him by removing his clothing

If you were Mr X what would you do?.

11 of 15

11

Often service users are not being deliberately difficult
It is not their fault
Deteriorate faster with underlying physical problem
Allow time
Allow them to express their feelings
Use of aids
Do not take their behaviour or insults personally
Learn as much as you can about your service users.

Understanding Difficult Behaviour

12 of 15

12

Understanding Difficult Behaviour

Exercise: Wandering

Two weeks ago Mr Jones come to the residential care home you work in. Since his arrival he has not settled and is constantly wandering about the home; entering other service users rooms; picking items up; and generally he has to be watched constantly by the employees

What could be the reasons for

Mr Jones’s behaviour?.

13 of 15

13

Understanding Difficult Behaviour

Exercise: Supporting Relationships

The relationships we have with others strengthen our sense of personal identity. They give us the sense of self-worth, trust and love

What sort of relationships should we be encouraging for service users?.

14 of 15

14

Legal Aspects

Legislation and polices developed to promote human rights, inclusion, equal life chances and citizenship of individuals with dementia, mental health needs or learning disabilities:

Human Rights Act 1998
Care Act 2014
Data Protection Act 2018 together with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
Safeguarding Adults National Framework
Fundamental Standards of Quality and Safety.

15 of 15

15

What to do