A person-centred approach to dementia care (3 days)

A 3-day course devised and delivered by DementiaTrainers.


Day 1

  • The experience of dementia: understanding the perspective of people with dementia
  • Facts and up-to-date information about dementia: types of dementia, symptoms, risk factors, statistics
  • Identifying factors that contribute to the difficulties in dementia
  • Establishing guidelines for good practice
  • Developing knowledge about people with dementia as individuals
  • Life story work
  • Meeting the needs of the whole person
  • Well-being in dementia
  • Positive outcomes: recognising well-being in dementia
  • Monitoring well-being
  • Action planning

Day 2

  • The range of difficulties and abilities of individuals
  • Compensating for the symptoms of dementia
  • Identifying and utilising the strengths and remaining abilities of people with dementia
  • A ‘partnership’ model: promoting independence and compensating for difficulties
  • Environment and dementia
  • Supporting good nutrition and hydration
  • Non-verbal communication
  • Active listening
  • Communication problems in dementia
  • Facilitating communication and choice
  • Meeting psychological needs through effective communication
  • Understanding behaviours that staff find challenging
  • Responding to strong feelings
  • Action planning

Day 3

  • Understanding, supporting and working with informal carers / relatives
  • Factors contributing to behaviours that challenge
  • Finding effective responses to behaviours that challenge
  • Medication and person-centred care
  • Recognising pain in people with dementia
  • Understanding and responding to walking
  • Assessing and managing risk
  • The purpose of occupation for people with dementia
  • Providing appropriate occupations to meet needs of individuals
  • Action planning

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