Continued learning and development is key to your professional success. The evidence base of evaluation and clinical care for all aspects of health, including mental health and cognitive functioning, is continually expanding.

When a loved one falls sick and is diagnosed with a life-changing illness, deciding on care options is a very difficult decision to make. Families find themselves having to trust the care, support, and health of their loved ones in the hands of healthcare professionals. They trust that the care providers are qualified with the necessary skills and knowledge to look after their family and friends.

With the diagnosis of a cognitive impairment disease like dementia, the families of the patient need to trust that their loved ones’ care won’t be compromised in any way, shape or form. In many cases, dementia patients are wholly dependent on full or part-time caregivers to look after their complex needs. Entrusting a family member’s care to the hands of a nurse, who might be a stranger at first, can be challenging for the patient’s family to deal with. As a healthcare provider, you can help ease the process by learning skills that will help you deliver better care to dementia patients.

Alison offers a range of free online courses healthcare professionals can complete to boost their caregiving skills for individuals living with dementia.

A strong, established and updated skill set will help you provide the best care. An up-to-date skill set means you are equipped with the required healthcare skills to assist your patients in managing their day-to-day activities either – at home or in a care-based facility.

Caregiving Courses to Become a Better Dementia Caregiver

Because of the varying types of dementia, it’s important for caregivers to understand them and know how to care for each patient and their individual spectrum of Dementia. Providing care can be challenging because dementia patients have personality and behaviour changes that occur often and as a result, need information and skills to help them with these daily changes.

Alison offers a range of free-to-learn courses accredited by the independent organisation, CPD (Continuing Professional Development), and are all aligned with global CPD standards. Alison’s courses have all undergone rigorous quality assurance and integrity testing by highly-qualified pedagogic specialists. This means that each learner has met CPD’s standards and they have met the required benchmarks set.

• Caregiving Skills – Dementia Care
• Elderly Care and Caring for the Disabled
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults
• Emotional Resilience At Work

Caregiving Skills – Dementia Care

This course will introduce you to dementia care, its symptoms and treatments. The course content includes essential information about Alzheimer’s disease. You will also learn about the characteristics of dementia patients and recommendations on how to select the right set of stimulating activities for them to do.

Emotional Resilience At Work

Caring for patients can take its toll on the physical, emotional and mental well-being of caregivers. Taking care of yourself allows you to be in a better position to take care of your patients. This course offers you essential stress management skills and teaches you how to handle the pressure that comes with the responsibilities of caring for others.

Elderly Care and Caring for the Disabled

The elderly experience various mental and physical health conditions as they grow older. This course will educate you about essential knowledge and key concepts that will help you further your career in the health profession.

Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults

Adults who experience different mental and physical challenges are vulnerable targets for those with negative intentions. Patients with dementia are a particularly vulnerable group because of the impact on their cognitive functioning. This course is designed to enhance caregivers’ ability and skills to recognise the dangers, and how to protect those in their care by protecting their safety and dignity.

Skills You Will Acquire at the End of the Course

Providing healthcare support to dementia patients requires carers to do more than just show up. The complexity of the dementia range of diseases requires one to possess additional skill sets to excel in your role and ensure your patients live out their last years in dignity.

After completing Alison’s courses you will be equipped with skills that not only boost your career trajectory but you will also:

• gain the skills to support the families of loved ones diagnosed with dementia
• develop or expand the necessary communication skills to effectively liaise with all members of the care team
• learn how to identify the new behaviours and conditions relating to the dementia diagnosis.

There is always a demand for highly-skilled healthcare professionals. Whether you are new to the profession or seasoned, taking courses to upskill yourself is an excellent path to take. There are many benefits to upskilling:

1. It adds to your personal development as an individual and boosts your confidence
2. New skills make you valuable to your employer and marketable should you want to switch roles and companies
3. Upskilling may help further progress your career.