Year

Milestone

Evidence the impact of changes against patient experience and outcomes

Expertise in Dementia Practice Level

Outlines the knowledge and skills required for health and social care staff who by virtue of their role and practice setting, play an expert specialist role in the care, treatment and support of people with dementia

Enhanced Dementia Practice Level

Describes the knowledge and skills required by all staff that have direct and/or substantial contact with people with dementia and their families and carers

Dementia Skilled Practice Level

Describes the knowledge and skills required by all staff that have direct and/or substantial contact with people and their families and carers

Dementia Informed Practice Level

Provides the baseline knowledge and skills required by all staff working in health and social care settings including a person's own home.

Semesters 5 and 6

(Enhanced level)

Semesters 2 - 4

(Skilled level)

Semester 1

(Informed level)

Students will be able to:

• Gain a comprehensive understanding on dementia as a medical condition and its impact on people with dementia and their families;
• Appreciate that people with dementia, their families and carers are still able to have and maintain a quality of life valued by them;
• Appreciate some of the post diagnostic challenges with dementia;
• Understand the potential risk of social isolation that can follow a diagnosis of dementia.

Students will be able to:

• Interact with people with dementia, their families and carers, in a way that recognises their wishes and priorities;
• Develop simple communication techniques that can be used in practice settings.

Students will be able to:

• Understand the key national policy frameworks for dementia care and the range of Health & Social Care services available for people with dementia in Scotland;
• Understand what is meant by the term 'person-centred support; in relation to people with dementia;
• Recognise the challenges around communication in people with dementia and understand a range of methods to aid communication;
• Understand the importance of supportive networks and/or therapeutic connections for people with dementia, their families and carers.

Students will be able to:

• Interact with people with dementia in a person-centred way that recognises and utilises their unique strengths and abilities;
• Provide relevant information or signpost to an appropriate person, or service, to enable people with dementia to access chosen community services and activities;
• Provide person-centred dementia care.

Students will be able to:

• Appreciate that people with dementia have a right to continued engagement in life's roles and relationships;
• Appreciate the different types of risk(s) that people with dementia are vulnerable to;
• Gain confidence in performing and interpreting evidence-based assessments related to cognition, function (ADLs) and behaviour as required in people with dementia;
• Understand the human and legal rights of people with dementia for decision making/choices in the context of their own lives.

Students will be able to:

• Support people with dementia in risk enablement by contributing to risk assessment and management;
• Participate in assessment and support of people with dementia who may be experiencing neglect, harm or abuse;
• Use a range of assessment tools to assess cognition, function and behaviour in dementia;
• Participate in processes to assess capacity of people with cognitive impairments in practice sessions;
• Participate, contribute and interpret evidence-based MDT assessments in practice settings;
• Actively support people with dementia, their families and carers, to understand the legal frameworks that facilitate choice and decision-making.

Students will be able to:

• Understand the causes signs of stress and distress for the person with dementia, their family and carers (formal & informal);
• Differentiate between the signs of delirium, depression and dementia in a practice setting;
• Understand the impact of Polypharmacy on the person with dementia;
• Gain knowledge of the pharmacological treatment of dementia.

Students will be able to:

• Recognise triggers of stress and distress and intervene as appropriate;
• Gain confidence in performing 4AT to identify changes with cognition as part of routine assessment if required;
• Participate in debrief sessions (for stress & distress) with confidence if available;
• Critically evaluate the medications prescribed for people with dementia and provide appropriate guidance with support from experts.

Students will be able to:

• Appreciate the concept of relationship-centred model of care in dementia practice settings;
• Recognise specific challenges faced by families in dementia care;
• Appreciate how the physical environment can intensify physical, cognitive and social risks for people with dementia;
• Understand how environmental adaptations, assistive and innovative technology can enhance the quality of life of the person with dementia;
• Gain access to virtual environments that are dementia-friendly and information on a range of assistive and innovative technologies available that support independent living and the evidence base for their use.

Students will be able to:

• Recognise when a person with dementia, their families and carers, are experiencing anxiety and/or depression and seek appropriate resources to support them;
• Participate in carer support interventions;
• Sensitive practice settings to address the environmental issues that may provide challenges to safety and quality of life for people with dementia;
• Demonstrate confidence in offering suggestions to create dementia-friendly environments within a ward or care home setting.

Students will be able to:

• Appreciate the complexity associated with the progression of dementia and the signs and symptoms associated with end of life;
• Support the physical wellbeing (inclusive of pain management) of the person with dementia as far as possible at end of life;
• understand the emotional complexities in relation to future planning for the person with dementia, families and carers;
• Understand advance planning processes such as advanced statements/Power of Attorney and planning and end of life care.

Students will be able to:

• Use appropriate tool/s for pain assessment as required;
• Sensitively and empathetically support the person with dementia to make plans and identify their priorities for the future, including their wishes regarding times when reducing capacity and end of life issues need to be addressed using appropriate guidance.