All our staff go through a comprehensive training programme before they work independently.  This covers a wide range of topics and modules, but a key element of the programme is care for people living with dementia.  Around 30% of our customers are experiencing dementia to one degree or another and caring effectively for such people requires a different type of understanding and skill-set, especially around communication.

Dementia training in our organisation goes beyond the basics.  We equip our carers with the knowledge, understanding and practical skills to provide compassionate, person-centred support to any individual and their own, unique challenges.  Our students learn from a mixture of online lessons and classroom face-to-face work led by me.  And I make sure that at all times, we maintain that laser focus on achieving quality of life.

Our training starts the different types of dementia and their pathologies, typical presentations and common symptoms, and progression.  But we then spend a good deal of time learning about the skills and talents needed to provide a premium service to an individual on their own unique dementia journey.  We use interactive discussions, real-life case studies and practical scenarios. These encourage our carers to think about potential challenges they may encounter, explore ways to overcome barriers and develop approaches that promote dignity, independence, choice and wellbeing.

We recognise that every individual has their own needs, wishes, preferences and life experiences, regardless of their dementia.  That’s why we focus on understanding each person as an individual, ensuring their care is tailored to what matters most to them.

 We place a strong emphasis on reflection, discussion and practical application and believe that going beyond mandatory training will help our carers build confidence in adapting their approach to each individual.   Learning about different ways of communicating is key, especially when a person’s speech  becomes compromised.  Our aim is to ensure that every person living with dementia feels understood, respected and supported to live as well as possible.

But our training does not stop in the classroom...

Once a carer is out in the field, the true magic is applied.  If they have been allocated to a particular customer with dementia, our Field Dementia Leader will coach them how to do their very best for that person: maybe how best to secure consent to shower; what the person enjoys talking about or doing; what potential anxiety/aggression triggers to avoid (eg a certain colour or texture, offering too much choice at mealtimes) whether they respond best to a calm, quiet manner or to a jolly manner; how best to communicate; and making sure the carer repeats their name and role regularly so the person doesn’t suddenly think there is a stranger in the house.  Whatever the challenges, we never, ever give up: we keep on trying to find ways to understand what may be going on for a person and how we can help them feel calm and contented. 

Immersive Experience

Each year, we run a full day event, “virtual simulation of living with dementia”.  This worldwide, scientifically and medically proven method gives a person with a healthy brain an experience of what dementia might be like.  It allows delegates to enter the world of the person with dementia and understand which simple changes need to be made to their practice and environment to really improve a person’s quality of life.  This session run by Training2Care is possibly the BEST DEMENTIA TRAINING SESSION WE HAVE EVER LAID ON.  After the experience – which many describe as “life-changing” - delegates attend a seminar to discuss how their findings can enhance the care they deliver.