Dementia Communication Skills

Course Duration:

9.30am - 4.30pm

Target Audience:

All staff, volunteers, family carers, direct employers and their PA’s working with people with Dementia

Aim:

To provide an overview of how internal and external factors influence communication in an individual with dementia. To provide a range of communication tools to enable individuals to work in creative ways to respond flexibly to the changing needs of the individual with dementia.

Learning Outcomes:

• Identify ways to assess the communication strengths and abilities of the individual with dementia.
• State how dementia can impact on communication skills.
• Identify other factors that might influence the individual’s ability to communicate.
• Describe a range of communication strategies that could be adopted at different stages of dementia.
• Describe techniques to promote and maximise communication using a strength-based approach.
• Describe how information about an individual’s life history can strengthen communication.
• Apply active listening skills.
• Explain how assumptions and beliefs influence effective communication.
• Explain how behaviours of concern may be a form of communication.
• Explain the role of mouth care in supporting communication.