Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care

UNIT 40: DEMENTIA CAREMaintaining the general good health and wellbeing of the individual withdementia: food, nutrition, eating and drinking at regular intervals; appropriateexercise and activities specific to the needs of the individual; personal careincluding measures to reduce risk of infection; living in a clean and enablingenvironment; potential links between physical illness and/or medication andconfusionPositive and effective communication with the individual with dementia:recognise that the individual’s behaviour will often be directly related to theirneed to communicate about their feelings and needs; look and listen carefullyand take account of what a individual is communicating; respond appropriatelyand positively to an individual’s various forms of communication using nonthreateningbody language and tone of voice, use of simple sentences, being calmand unrushed; give encouragement and focus on the individual’s strengths andabilities; managing challenging behaviourActivities, therapies and medication: conventional medicines; complementarytherapies and activities, eg herbal medicine, acupuncture, aromatherapy andmassage, sensory therapy, music therapy3 Understand roles, responsibilities and boundaries when caring for individualswith dementiaRoles, responsibilities and boundaries: individual; family and friends ofindividual; independent advocate; care worker; manager; social worker; generalpractitioner; specialist personnel eg psychiatrist, therapists, communitypsychiatric nurse; how team work and support can lead to better support ofindividualsCommunicating, reporting and recording effectively: distinguishing betweensubjective and objective language, fact and opinion; using clear, objectivestatements in eg care plans, reports, daily logs, handover reports; usingappropriate language and avoiding the use of negative statements and languagewhen describing a person with dementiaRoles and responsibilities of services: care homes with personal care or nursingcare; hospitals; domiciliary, respite and day services; sheltered accommodationand supported housing; voluntary and charitable organisations, eg Alzheimer’sSociety, Mental Health Foundation, Age Concern, Anchor Trust, MIND4 Know legislation and guidance relevant to the care of individuals withdementiaLegislation and guidance: relevant sections of, eg Mental Health Act 1983,Enduring Power of Attorney Act 1985, Community Care Act 1990, DisabilityDiscrimination Act 1995, Data Protection Act 1998, Human Rights Act 1998,Health Act 1999, Care Standards Act 2000, Mental Capacity Act 2005, NationalService Framework for Older PeopleOrganisational policies and procedures: eg visitor policy, no secrets policyBN018467 – Specification – Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care– Issue 1 – February 2007 © Edexcel Limited 2007495