A Toolkit for Supporting Someone with Dementia

Overview

This is part of the new programme of Continuing Professional Development for adult learners. Dementia affects the whole family. This module is a small taster, delivered as self-paced learning, gives a toolkit for those carers and their wider family group, who are facing this condition. Written in conjunction with the Nursing School at Aberystwyth, the module will form a tool kit for those who may wish to investigate further and will be a stepping stone for the continuing professional development module on Dementia run by the Healthcare Education Centre.

Dementia affects many families, after the initial diagnosis, families need to change their caring responsibilities. This transition could be managed positively, if we just knew how. This module works through the main issues encountered by many families with a practical advice and an assessment that can be used with your loved one. This illness affects people differently and wading through mounds of information can be very demoralising.

Programme

The units with short reflective tasks are delivered through mini presentations and the tasks can be worked through at your own pace. You will be guided by professionals and learn from the stories of those who have been through the process.

Induction to the style of leaning and overview of what you will learn. You will send your unit tasks to your tutor to gain feedback as you progress through the units, and this will form a small part of your overall assessment.

Unit One: Early signs: What is dementia? How does it affect the brain? What isn’t dementia?

Recorded talking heads: reflective task: what do you want from this module?

YouTube: Barbara’s Story

Case study profile: for those wishing to keep their assessment less personal.

Unit two: Communication: helping our loved ones. The senses

The Unit task here would either be theoretical (some reading) or experiential (reflect on the use of some communication strategies and the effect it had on their loved one living with dementia)

Unit three: Positives and Negatives:

User stories and talking heads. Dementia can be positive, if we have the tool kit.

Unit four: Preparation for your assessment. Reminiscence therapy, Memory Box.

Unit five: Accessing Services: GP surgeries, Power of Attorney, Nursing Homes, Physiotherapy, mental capacity.

No home study task

Unit six: Sexuality, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion. Therapeutic lying

The Unit task could either be theoretical (reading around one of these issues most pertinent to the student - eg Mental Health Foundation report. What is Truth? An inquiry about truth and lying in dementia care) or a practical (reflecting on these issues within their own specific context).

Unit seven: Coping Strategies: Anticipatory Grief. Process of grieving, the carers family well being

Unit includes signposting links to societies and where you can get further help.

Learning Outcomes

To provide a tool kit for families who have a loved one with a diagnosis of dementia.
Raise awareness of coping skills to allow the loved one to be as independent as possible and lead a more fulfilled life.

Assessments

• Assessment one: ongoing reflective tasks on units presented as a blog OR address a case study supplied by the tutor  20%
• Assessment two: Present a photo of a memory box with an explanation of why the image was chosen with an opening prompt question to encourage communication  80%

Reading Suggestions

Reading suggestions will be offered throughout the course. 

Entry Requirements

This course is for everyone. No previous experience is needed and there are no formal entry requirements.

What Do I Need?

As this is an online course, you would need the following:

• Internet access
• Access to a laptop or computer with a web camera and microphone; the use of headphones might also be of benefit
• Use of the Chrome web-browser where possible.