1. Dementia training: limitations and possibilities
Jo Moriarty

2. Sounds familiar?
Mrs Smith’s care plan says she needs help remembering to eat meals. When her regular care worker is on holiday, the replacement workers asks Mrs Smith if she has eaten breakfast. ‘Oh yes’ she replies . Relieved as she is running late, the care worker makes a note of this and leaves for her next call
Anne calls out to Mr Brown that she will be along to help him to the dining room in a couple of minutes. 10 minutes later, she walks up to his chair saying ‘up we get’ as she places his hands on the arms of the chair. ‘Get off me’, he shouts angrily
12 February 2016
LSAS meeting

3. Mismatch between skills & support needs
Used the National Minimum Data Set for Social Care (NMDS-SC) to compare those working in dementia care with the rest of the adult social care workforce.
42% worked in settings that supported people with dementia
Less likely to hold a social care qualification
More likely to work for an agency
Twin problems of lack of continuity and access to training
12 February 2016
LSAS meeting

4. Dementia as a disability
Not the first people to view dementia as a disability but represents mainstreaming of idea
Key aspect is that we focus on the barriers created by society and not the condition itself
Helps us to think about ways that enhance skills and strengths
w-can-and-should-uk-society- adjust-dementia
12 February 2016
LSAS meeting

5. Using Communication as an example
Body of research showing that people with dementia face double disadvantage:
Communication problems caused by dementia itself
Reduced opportunities to communicate with others
Most of this research based on people in care homes but would equally apply to people living on their own
12 February 2016
LSAS meeting

6. Care workers can be taught Strategies that can help
Explaining what is going to happen – e.g. helping you to get dressed
Using short sentences
Giving people additional time to respond
Avoiding ‘elderspeak’ – reduces confidence as being talked down to
Understanding people’s personal histories
12 February 2016
LSAS meeting

7. But... Easier to show benefits for staff than people with dementia
Positive practices may fall off if not reinforced
Needs positive organisational culture
ions/briefings/briefing34/
Not updated but personally unaware of new contradictory evidence
12 February 2016
LSAS meeting

8. A ‘virtuous circle’? Links between job satisfaction and retention
We know a lot about the negatives (pay, status etc)
Job satisfaction associated with building relationships
Peer support, good supervision and team relationships
12 February 2016
LSAS meeting

9. Discussion Barriers well known
Additional complexities in culturally diverse areas
Jelly or jam?
Any facilitators?
Anything else?
12 February 2016
LSAS meeting

10. Thank you for listening
Disclaimer & thank you
The Social Care Workforce Research Unit receives funding from the Department of Health Policy Research Programme. The views expressed here are those of the authors and not the Department of Health
Thank you for listening
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