Foundations in Dementia

Gain expert knowledge and skills to care for individuals living with dementia

Dementia is becoming more common worldwide. On this course, you will learn to understand people with dementia and to care appropriately as a professional or family supporter. Spanning six topics from prevention and diagnosis to end of life care, the course also offers insights from recent research.

Whatever your role in dementia care, by engaging with the resources and exchanging views with others, you will gain knowledge, skills, and confidence in dealing with people with dementia. Some of the material is specific to England and Wales, such as the legal context and health service provision.

This course would suit health and social care professionals (e.g. nurses, doctors, therapists and social workers). It will also interest students, carers of people with dementia, individuals with a recent diagnosis, volunteers, and dementia researchers.

• Causes and Prevention of Dementia
• Welcome to the course
• How the brain works
• Cognition and dementia
• Risk factors for dementia
• Important note on Coronavirus
• Review, conclusion and research briefing: Genetic science
• Identification, Diagnosis and Treatment
• Introduction to identification, diagnosis and treatment
• Seeking help
• Non-medical Interventions
• Review, Conclusion and Research Briefing: Cognitive Stimulation Therapy
• Legal and Ethical Issues
• Introduction to the UK legal context
• Using the Mental Capacity Act
• Human rights
• Review, conclusion and research briefing: deprivation of liberty
• Communication Skills
• The challenge of effective communication
• Person centred care (PCC) and communication
• Review, Summary and Research Briefing: the VOICE Study
• Family and Friends Supporting People Living with Dementia
• Care given by family and friends
• Understanding skills needed by carers
• Rewards, problems and satisfactions of caring
• Review, Conclusion and Research Briefing: The AQUEDUCT Study
• Living Well with Dementia and End of Life Care
• What do we mean by 'quality of life'?
• Keeping well and planning for the future
• End of life care
• Review, research briefing and more
• Acknowledgements