Dementia Awareness training
This training helps you understand dementia and how to provide person centred care to residents living with dementia at the care setting. You will learn to recognise signs of dementia, support residents with dignity and respect, and follow our policies to meet their individual needs.
What This Training Covers
A clear, practical grounding in dementia awareness.
This training helps you understand dementia and how to provide person centred care to residents living with dementia at the care setting. You will learn to recognise signs of dementia, support residents with dignity and respect, and follow our policies to meet their individual needs.
Learning Outcomes
By the end, your staff will be able to:
What Your Team Will Learn
A closer look at the dementia awareness module.
The module is built in short, practical sections. Each one teaches a part of the topic, then applies it to a real care scenario and checks understanding before moving on.
Understanding Dementia
Dementia is not a single disease but a term for symptoms caused by different brain conditions. It affects memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to do everyday tasks. The symptoms get worse over time. Common types include Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and mixed dementia. Each person experiences dementia differently. Our policy requires us to see each resident as a whole person, not just someone with a dementia label.
Person Centred Care and Individual Needs
Our Dementia Care Policy follows person centred care principles. This means understanding each resident's unique history, preferences, abilities and needs. People with dementia are at different stages and have different types of dementia, so we must take a differential approach to each person. We work closely with families and carers who know the person well. We must never exclude someone from activities just because they have dementia. Our equality and diversity policies apply to everyone.
Rights, Dignity and Decision Making
People with dementia have the right to make their own decisions according to their capacity. We must always treat them with respect and value their dignity. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 guides how we support decision making. We must assume a person has capacity unless proven otherwise. We must help people make their own decisions. If someone lacks capacity for a specific decision, we make decisions in their best interests. We seek safeguarding advice if someone might be deprived of their liberty without consent.
Communication and Daily Support
Good communication is essential for dementia care. Speak clearly and calmly using simple words and short sentences. Make eye contact and use the person's name. Give them time to respond. Use gentle touch if appropriate. Notice body language and facial expressions as these communicate feelings. Break tasks into small steps. Reduce background noise and distractions. Never argue or tell someone they are wrong, as this causes distress. Instead, redirect and reassure. Maintain familiar routines as much as possible.
Recognising Illness and Health Changes
People with dementia may not be able to tell us when they feel unwell. We must watch for changes in behaviour, mood, appetite, sleep or mobility as these may signal illness. Our Ill Health and Sepsis Awareness Policy requires us to act promptly when we have concerns. People with dementia are more vulnerable to infections and sepsis. Report any concerns immediately to the duty manager or nurse. Changes in confusion levels, increased agitation, or refusing food and drink can all be signs of illness, not just dementia progression.
Sepsis Awareness in Dementia Care
Sepsis is a life threatening condition triggered by infection. People with dementia are at higher risk because conditions that weaken the immune system make sepsis more likely. Early signs include high or low temperature, fast heartbeat, fast breathing, not urinating, cloudy smelly urine, and mental confusion relating to the current condition. Severe sepsis includes very fast breathing, discoloured skin, continuing lack of urination, vomiting, and becoming unresponsive. If you see these signs, report immediately to the manager and seek urgent medical help by calling the GP, 111, or 999 for severe cases. When discussing symptoms, check if sepsis is indicated.
Key Points Covered
The things your team must remember.
- Dementia affects each person differently. We must provide person centred care based on individual needs, history and preferences.
- People with dementia have the right to make decisions according to their capacity. We assume capacity unless proven otherwise.
- Treat all residents with dementia with respect and dignity. Never exclude them from activities because of their diagnosis.
- Communicate clearly and calmly. Do not argue when someone is confused. Redirect and reassure instead.
- Watch for changes in behaviour or health as residents with dementia may not tell us they are unwell.
- Act promptly if you suspect illness or sepsis. Report immediately and seek medical help. Early treatment saves lives.
Who and how often
Dementia Awareness is refreshed every year, for the staff in your care setting whose roles require it.
CQC and standards
Supports the training evidence CQC expects to see for a well-run, safe care setting.
How CareStream Delivers It
Not a slideshow once a year. Training that sticks.
CareStream delivers dementia awareness training in the hub your team already uses, grounded in best practice and your own policies, so it fits your care setting and not a generic template.
Teach, then assess
Short teaching sections and a real care scenario, then an assessment that checks understanding.
In any language
Staff complete it in over 60 languages, while your records stay in English.
Learn and retry
A wrong answer triggers a short follow-up lesson and a fresh question, so the gap is closed.
Renewals handled
Automatic reminders at 90, 30 and 7 days, with a live compliance dashboard.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions.
Give your team dementia awareness training that actually sticks.
See how CareStream delivers your mandatory training in the hub, in any language.