Dementia Care Course

Lesson 1 • Risk Factors and Prevention Evidence

Examines modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors supported by current research. Nurses use this knowledge to educate patients and families on risk reduction.

Lesson 2 • Defining Dementia as a Syndrome

Dementia is distinguished from normal aging and other cognitive disorders. This baseline definition anchors all clinical reasoning taught throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • Major Dementia Types and Pathology

Covers Alzheimer's, vascular, Lewy body, and frontotemporal dementias at the cellular level. Understanding pathology guides symptom anticipation and care planning.

Lesson 1 • Cognitive Screening and Diagnostic Tools

Introduces validated instruments for detecting and quantifying cognitive impairment. Nurses learn when and how to apply each tool appropriately.

Lesson 2 • Principles of Dementia-Specific Assessment

Assessment in dementia requires adapting standard nursing approaches to cognitive limitations. This section establishes the ethical and practical framework for valid data collection.

Lesson 3 • Functional and Physical Assessment

Evaluates activities of daily living, mobility, nutrition, and sensory status. Functional data directly informs care planning and safety interventions.

Lesson 4 • Ongoing Monitoring and Reassessment

Dementia is dynamic; reassessment detects decline, medication effects, and new complications. Nurses establish systematic monitoring schedules tied to care plan updates.

Lesson 1 • Life History and Biographical Assessment

Gathering life history enables care that resonates with the individual's identity and values. Nurses learn structured methods for collecting and applying biographical information.

Lesson 2 • Core Principles of Person-Centred Care

Defines personhood, autonomy, and relational care as foundational values. These principles form the ethical backbone of every intervention covered in the course.

Lesson 3 • Maintaining Identity and Meaningful Engagement

Preserving roles, routines, and meaningful activities sustains well-being and reduces behavioural symptoms. Nurses design engagement strategies aligned with individual histories.

Lesson 1 • Validation and Reminiscence Approaches

Validation therapy and reminiscence meet the person in their emotional reality rather than correcting it. These approaches reduce distress and strengthen the therapeutic relationship.

Lesson 2 • Communicating with Late-Stage Dementia

Verbal communication becomes minimal in late-stage dementia, requiring comfort-focused sensory approaches. Nurses develop skills to maintain connection and assess needs non-verbally.

Lesson 3 • Verbal Communication Techniques

Specific language strategies reduce confusion and support comprehension during care interactions. Nurses practise simplifying language while maintaining respect and warmth.

Lesson 4 • How Dementia Alters Communication

Language, comprehension, and pragmatic skills deteriorate in predictable patterns across dementia types. Understanding these changes prepares nurses to adapt their approach at each stage.

Lesson 1 • Responding to Aggression and Agitation

Agitation and aggression require de-escalation skills that protect both patient and nurse. This section provides step-by-step response protocols grounded in safety and dignity.

Lesson 2 • Wandering and Elopement Prevention

Wandering poses significant safety risks and requires proactive environmental and behavioural strategies. Nurses design individualised prevention plans that balance safety with freedom.

Lesson 3 • Pharmacological Management Principles

Medications are used cautiously when non-pharmacological approaches are insufficient. Nurses understand drug classes, monitoring responsibilities, and risk-benefit considerations.

Lesson 4 • Non-Pharmacological Interventions

Structured non-drug strategies are the first-line response to most behavioural symptoms. Nurses learn to select, implement, and evaluate interventions matched to symptom type.

Lesson 1 • Infection Prevention and Comorbidity Management

People with dementia are vulnerable to infections and have multiple comorbidities requiring coordinated patient management. Nurses recognise atypical presentations and coordinate timely interventions.

Lesson 2 • Falls Prevention and Mobility Support

Cognitive impairment amplifies falls risk through impaired judgment and gait changes. Nurses apply multifactorial prevention strategies while preserving mobility and independence.

Lesson 3 • Continence Care and Skin Integrity

Incontinence is common in dementia and contributes to skin breakdown and loss of dignity. Structured continence programmes and skin care protocols reduce complications.

Lesson 4 • Sleep Disturbance Management

Disrupted sleep-wake cycles are prevalent in dementia and worsen behavioural symptoms. Nurses implement non-pharmacological sleep hygiene strategies before considering medication.

Lesson 1 • Respite and Community Support Resources

Respite services and community programmes reduce caregiver burden and delay institutionalisation. Nurses identify and connect families with appropriate local and national resources.

Lesson 2 • Family Roles in Dementia Care

Families transition through shifting roles as dementia progresses, from partners to primary caregivers. Nurses recognise these dynamics to provide appropriate nursing support at each stage.

Lesson 3 • Assessing and Addressing Caregiver Burden

Caregiver burden increases risk of burnout, depression, and poor care quality. Nurses use validated tools to identify burden and connect caregivers with appropriate resources.

Lesson 4 • Family Education and Skill Building

Structured education empowers families to provide safe, effective care at home. Nurses tailor teaching to health literacy, cultural background, and caregiver readiness.

Lesson 1 • Pain and Symptom Management at End of Life

Non-verbal pain assessment and comfort-focused symptom management are essential in late-stage dementia. Nurses titrate medications and use non-pharmacological measures to ensure comfort.

Lesson 2 • Recognising and Supporting the Dying Process

Recognising signs of imminent death allows nurses to prepare families and optimise comfort care. This section covers physiological changes and the nurse's role in the final hours.

Lesson 3 • Advance Care Planning and Directives

Advance care planning ensures care aligns with the person's values when decision-making capacity is lost. Nurses facilitate planning conversations and document preferences accurately.

Lesson 4 • Palliative Care Principles in Dementia

Palliative care in dementia begins at diagnosis and intensifies as the disease advances. Nurses integrate comfort-focused goals alongside curative and restorative care throughout the trajectory.