For some of the people you look after a degree of confusion, caused by anxiety and agitation, can impact on their day to day life.
Dementia
resources for staff
Dementia Resources
Library
External link
A range of short resources that can be used for staff training or to support supervision and appraisal or as resources for providers developing their own training.
*Please note that advertisements played on YouTube links provided in this resource library are in no way endorsed or selected by Leeds City Council and do not reflect the views of the organisation.
The Alzheimer’s Society provides guidance for individuals providing care
External link to people with dementia including the impact of delirium
External link on people with dementia.
Skills for Care have published a guide giving best practice case studies from domiciliary care employers developing their workforces to support people with dementia.
Better domiciliary care for people with dementia
External link
The University of East Anglia have also produced a
guide book
External link which is free to download and is created for carers who assist a person with a dementia with their personal care. This booklet was developed as part of the Alzheimer’s Society funded Pro-CARE study, which was undertaken at the University of East Anglia.
The booklet is available on the link below, please do share with any family carers, care-home staff or dementia support organisations you feel may benefit from the resource.
There are also a range of resources around developing dementia friendly environments.
In the case of someone’s own home the following are useful for individual and families as well as home care providers to give advice.
Alzheimer's Society;
Making your home dementia friendly (PDF)
External link Document
For dementia in care homes
The Open University – design for dementia care videos
Dementia Services Development Centre
External link : (stir.ac.uk) Stirling are an acknowledged centre of excellence.
Dementia activities
My Life TV - The dementia friendly channel
My Life TV – Stimulating activities, joyful entertainment and calming content for people living with dementia and their carers.
Created by award winning dementia charity My Life Films,
My Life TV has programmes and content curated for the cognitive needs of people living with the condition – accessed on tv, tablet, phone or laptop.
It’s a fantastic tool for activity providers and care givers;
- Keeping residents engaged and occupied with meaningful activities.
- Enhancing therapeutic provision, supporting exercise and enabling social connection.
- Providing opportunities for respite or delivery of care.
- The content can help improve mood, quality of life and care, and help address agitation, anxiety and apathy.
My Life TV partner with many prestigious organisations including the Alzheimer’s Society, NAPA, British Film Institute, British Pathé and more. They also create bespoke quizzes, sing-alongs, chair yoga, music therapy & reminiscence sessions
Arts4Dementia - Empowerment through artistic stimulation
Arts4Dementia is a charity organisation developing arts activities to inspire and re-energise people living with dementia and their carers in the community.
Arts4Dementia
External link
Activities - a guide for carers of people with dementia
Delirium or dementia?
Rapid changes in someones dementia may be a sign of infection or delirium.
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) provides a
guide to delirium External li
The guide is extremely useful in identifying and supporting people with delirium and it is linked to a short
interactive web resource
External link .
Delirium is a temporary condition caused by a number of factors such as infections that can make these symptoms worse or cause such symptoms in people who are otherwise healthy and orientated.
Unlike dementia, the onset of delirium may be sudden and temporary. It is treatable if recognised early and appropriate treatment provided.
People with dementia are at greater risk of developing delirium. Sudden changes should always be taken notice of. These should be recorded and passed to a senior member of staff.
Dealing with people suffering from confusion on a day to day basis is very similar for both dementia and delirium. Failure to recognise the difference between them could mean the person doesn't get the correct treatment.
Check the individual’s records to see if any deterioration has been noted over the last hours or days.
If there is a medical emergency, ring 999.
If it is not a medical emergency
Make a note of other changes identified in the record such as:
- are they eating and drinking normally for them?
- do they have a temperature?
- do they have a cough or a cold?
- are they constipated?
- are they in pain and does the care plan tell you how that particular person lets you know they're in pain?
- do they have a bladder infection? Are they going to the toilet more often, or less often?
If the person gets severely ill ring the resident's GP and request a visit (or call 111). Always provide as much information as possible about what has happened, what has changed, how has the person deteriorated, and how the resident now appears.
Understanding the person
Always check care plans and make sure you understand the person. Some things to help you with this can be to see:
- how they tell you when they're in discomfort or pain
- what is normal for this person
what their preferences are for how care is provided
Caring for a resident
You should:
- stay with the resident or check on them regularly
- reassure them
- approach them gently
- provide an explanation to the resident and carers of any activity or procedure you are carrying out using short, simple sentences
- come down to their level
- never stand over people
- use a calm voice
- never shout at the resident
- always treat them with
dignity
Be aware of the surrounding environment
You should consider:
- a consistent calm daily routine
- using regular and repeated verbal clues as to the time of day. This could include using coloured table cloths to distinguish between breakfast, lunch and dinner
- eliminating, if possible, unexpected and irritating noise such as alarms
- maintaining good lighting levels in all rooms appropriate to the time of day and check that TV's are visible and not reflecting bright sunlight
- providing settings and objects that may be familiar
