Caring for People with Dementia: e-learning course

This online e-learning Fundamentals training course has been developed for anyone who is new to, or will soon be involved in, caring for someone with dementia, whether within the family or as a professional, either at home or as part of a team in a residential facility.

At the end of the course, learners will be able to:

• define clearly what dementia is and list its main causes
• identify the early symptoms and warning signs
• list some of the potential middle and late-stage symptoms
• explain the importance and benefits of tracking the progression of dementia

The full course is currently under development. It provides a much more in-depth introduction to the condition: its definition, causes and effects on people as it progresses. The course then looks at the importance of good communication between carers and the people they care for and examines ways of improving communication in different situations. Individual course units include:

Fundamentals Course + Learning Pack - single user: £25.00 inc. VAT

Additional information

The types of day-to-day care covered in the full course include creating a safe environment for people with dementia, helping at mealtimes, helping with bathing, washing and toileting as well as tips for dressing and managing medication.

Types of challenging behaviour that carers may come across when looking after people with dementia are identified. The course then goes on to explore effective and sensitive ways to cope with and respond to each type in different circumstances and at different stages of the condition.

Learners will discover how activities and exercise can improve the quality of life for people with dementia as well as giving them a sense of purpose. The course looks at the kinds of activities and exercise appropriate for different people's needs as the condition progresses.

The course concludes with a unit about late-stage care requirements and how carers can meet these sensitively and efficiently. It also identifies sources of support and advice available to carers and emphasises how essential it is for them to look after themselves throughout the process.

Learning Objectives

On completion of the course, learners will be able to:

• define the term dementia and describe common symptoms of the condition at each stage
• describe the benefits of monitoring, recording and reporting on the changing needs and capabilities of people with dementia in their care
• apply a range of methods which can improve verbal and non-verbal communication with someone in their care as the condition progresses
• adopt effective techniques for helping people with dementia to carry out day-to-day tasks in a stress-free and relaxing environment
• prepare for different types of challenging behaviour they may encounter and respond sensitively and appropriately
• explain the importance of helping people in their care to remain as mentally and physically active for as long as possible
• describe the emotional and physical care required in the late stages of the condition in order to keep people healthy and comfortable for as long as possible
• understand the importance of taking care of themselves throughout the process in order to be able to provide the strength and support required by the people in their care.

E-learning is an efficient and cost-effective way to deliver this knowledge. The course provides the required key facts and includes quizzes and tests within each unit and a formal assessment at the end to check learning and understanding. On completion, staff will be equipped with the necessary knowledge to carry out their duties competently and with confidence.

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