Dementia Training
Duration: 1 Day
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Enquire NowCourse Overview
Dementia affects over 900,000 people in the UK, and that number continues to rise. For care professionals, understanding the condition — and the person behind it — is essential to delivering safe, dignified, and meaningful support. This course provides a thorough grounding in the most common types of dementia, how they progress, and how they affect the people we care for in different ways.
Beyond the clinical knowledge, this training places a strong emphasis on person-centred care. You will explore practical communication techniques that help you connect with individuals whose verbal and cognitive abilities may be changing, and learn how to respond to behaviours that challenge with empathy and understanding rather than restraint or restriction. The course also covers how the physical environment can be adapted to support orientation, reduce confusion, and promote independence.
Whether you work in residential care, supported living, or domiciliary settings, this course will equip you with strategies you can apply immediately. Delivered through a blend of discussion, case studies, and reflective practice, it is designed to be accessible to all levels of staff — from those new to care through to experienced practitioners looking to refresh and deepen their knowledge.
Course Aims
- Understand the most common types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and Lewy body dementia
- Recognise the difference between dementia and other conditions such as delirium and depression
- Apply person-centred care principles to everyday practice when supporting individuals with dementia
- Use effective communication techniques that promote connection and reduce distress
- Respond to behaviours that challenge with empathy, understanding the unmet needs behind the behaviour
- Identify how the physical environment can be adapted to support orientation and wellbeing
- Support families and carers in understanding and coping with the impact of dementia
- Reflect on your own practice and identify areas for continued professional development
Course Content
- What is dementia? — definition, prevalence, and the difference between dementia and normal ageing
- Types of dementia — Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and mixed dementia
- Stages of dementia and how the condition progresses over time
- Person-centred care — the principles of Tom Kitwood’s model and how to apply them in practice
- Communication strategies — verbal and non-verbal techniques for meaningful interaction
- Understanding behaviours that challenge — viewing behaviour as a form of communication
- Responding to distress — de-escalation, validation, and redirection approaches
- Designing dementia-friendly environments — signage, lighting, colour contrast, and reducing sensory overload
- Supporting nutrition, hydration, and personal care with dignity
- Working with families — building partnerships and supporting emotional wellbeing