CHCAGE005 - Provide Support to People Living with Dementia Assessment Answer

ASSESSMENT OVERVIEW

ABOUT YOUR ASSESSMENTS

Assessment Task 1: Written questions

You must correctly answer all questions to show that you understand the knowledge required of this unit.

Assessment Task 2: Case studies

You are to read two case studies and complete the questions for each.

Assessment Task 3: Role plays

You are undertake two role plays.

Assessment Task 4: Behaviour management plan

You are to develop a behaviour management and review plan for the client from role play 2 in Assessment Task 3.

Assessment Task 5: Project – Dementia diseases

You are to complete a research project on a range of dementia diseases.

Assessment Task 6: Working with clients with dementia

This task has two parts:

Part A: Students are to monitor two clients with dementia for three days and complete a journal for each client.

Part B: Students will be observed by their assessor as they interact and support two clients with dementia.

1. Written questions

2. Case studies

3. Role plays

4. Project

5. Project

6. Project

Agreement by the student

Read through the assessments in this booklet before you fill out and sign the agreement below. Make sure you sign this before you start any of your assessments.

Have you read and understood what is required of you in terms of assessment?

¨ Yes

¨ No

Do you understand the requirements of this assessment?

¨ Yes

¨ No

Do you agree to the way in which you are being assessed?

¨ Yes

¨ No

Do you have any special needs or considerations to be made for this assessment? If yes, what are they? 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

¨ Yes

¨ No

Do you understand your rights to appeal the decisions made in an assessment?

¨ Yes

¨ No

ASSESSMENT TASK COVER SHEET – ASSESSMENT TASK 1

Name: Anil George

Date of birth: 28/03/1992

Student ID:

Unit:

§ CHCAGE005 Provide support to people living with dementia

Student to complete

Assessor to complete

Assessment Task

Resubmission?
Y/N

Student
initials

Sufficient/
insufficient

Date

Written questions

ASSESSMENT TASK 1: WRITTEN QUESTIONS

Task summary:

§ This is an open book test – you can use the Internet, textbooks and other documents to help you with your answers if required.

§ You must answer all questions correctly.

§ Write your answers in the space provided.

§ If you need more space, you can use extra paper. All extra pieces of paper must include your name and the question number/s you are answering.

§ You may like to use a computer to type your answers. Your assessor will tell you if you can email them the file or if you need to print a hard copy and submit it.

People with dementia can be more vulnerable to abuse as they may struggle to discuss their feelings and experiences or remember what happened to them. Dementia can also make it harder to detect abuse.

Sign 1:

Short term memories loss

Sign 2:

language and communication difficulties

Sign 3:

loss of ability to perform everyday tasks.

Sign 4:

changes in behaviour and emotions.

Sign 5:

Aggressive behaviour.

Sign 6:

Mental illness.

When addressing such situations of suspected elder abuse, it is important not to make any conclusions because there could be different causes, even if the symptoms is same. First of all, it is necessary to document the situation as it will help to know the case history and improve the wellbeing of the resident. Next, it is necessary to report to the senior supervisor or manager of the house

Person -centered approach ensures to focus on people with dementia. The benefits of this approach include:

· respecting the wishes of the individual

· allowing the person to make informed choices

· flexibility, meeting the diverse needs of different people

· improving the quality of care

The main principles of person- centered approach are as follows:

· Treat people with dignity and respect

· Provide coordinated care, support, and treatment

· Offer personalized care, support, and treatment

· Enable service users to recognize and develop their strength and abilities, so they can live an independent and fulfilling life.

Caring for people with dementia can be very frustrating and stressful. Two sings that

I notice when I am becoming stressed are as follows:

· Headache.

· Lack of concentration

1. If I found that my stress levels were interfering with the way I work , I will try to be more physically active by doing exercise, doing meditations, take break, and practicing skills to reduce stress levels.

2.

1.

2.

3.

Wandering is a problem in an aged care residence because it often makes it difficult to be familiar to the surroundings and it also makes them anxious or nervous.

1. Making the person physically active by taking for a short walk every day.

2. Allowing them to do take part in different activities like painting, art and craft, gardening or playing games.

1. Two social supports that could be put in place to assist people who tend to wander are allowing support access group to take them for shopping or outing.

2. Regularly meeting their needs

People with dementia often experience changes in their emotional responses. They may have less control over their feelings and how they express themselves. So, it becomes extremely important to look at emotional issue of wandering in client.

1.

2.

3.

Six communication techniques you should use when communicating with a person with dementia are as follows:

· Get the person’s attention

· State your message clearly

· Ask simple answerable question

· Minimize confusion

· Smile

· Facilitate understanding

Don’t sit there – it is too hot.

How about sitting in shade and having a soft drink?

You are not allowed in other people’s rooms.

Visiting other people’s room may harm you.

You can’t go home – you live here now.

You haven’t finished your dinner again.

It is necessary to finish dinner to have a good health

I wish you wouldn’t keep hiding your underclothes. Where have you put them?

Could you please say where are your underclothes as it is necessary to wash them regularly for healthy hygiene?

My name is Angela. I’ve told you five times in the last half hour.

Do you like my name, as you are asking me the fifth time?

Repetitive behaviour

Using memory aids and engaging the resident in an activity

Paranoia

Try to distract their attention and give simple answer

Aggression

Listen to them politely and don’t argue with them

Sundowning

Try to reduce their daytime nap and keep their rooms clean

Uninhibited sexual behavior

Distract them and try to maintain safe boundaries

Wanting to go home

Divert their attention and try to engage in some activities.

Distress or agitation (such as pacing, fiddling, constant vocalisations, crying out, etc)

Eating

· Provide them meal choice that is simple and try to make it easier for them to have food.

Bathing

Oral care

Use soft toothbrush

Dressing

Give them time and try to avoid giving them clothes with small buttons and difficult zippers.

Social model of devaluation is the systemic belief that a group or person has less social value than others. Such devaluation can have a negative consequence for the individual or group affected by it. Socially devalued parties have fewer opportunities and are recognized less for their accomplishments. Social role valorization is a tool meant to address the psychological consequences of devaluation and they can be counteracted.

As a personal care worker, two simple things I can do to help clients with dementia feel valued are as follows:

1. Be a good listener and make them feel valued

2. Respect and always provide good support with care

Reality orientation

Description: It is about presenting information about

time, place, or person in order to help a person understand their surroundings and situation.

Example: Using prompts in

conversation that helps people to orientate. “I feel really full after that lunch.”

Validation strategies

Description:

Example:

Reminiscences

Description: Reminiscence is the act of recollecting past experiences or events.

Example: An example of reminiscence may be grandparents remembering past events with friends or their grandchildren, sharing their individual experience of what the past was like.

Empathy

Description: Empathy means the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

Example: seeing things from another person perspective so that you can understand and relate to his or her feeling.

Acknowledgement

Description: Giving someone recognition for something they did or something they gave to you.

Example: I would like to thank for his/her support and time

Maud wants to walk to town for a coffee like she always used to. Maud has the early stages of dementia and has been known to get lost on the odd occasion.

I would also say that I also need a coffee and it would be great if we go together in her favourite restaurant. In addition to that, I would also make sure that she has her id card, and money for coffee and cake, if in case she wants to go alone.

Janice is up to her ears in paperwork. She has to check all the client care plans before the auditor comes next week. She has client files all over her desk, on top of the cabinet and on the floor.

There is a big pile of loose papers that need to be filed, so she is doing that first.

Today is Friday. When it is time to go home for the weekend, Janice puts up a large sign in her office: ‘DO NOT TOUCH ANY OF THESE FILES’.

She thinks she has done well to remember to do this as the cleaner comes in over the weekend and she doesn’t want the cleaner moving things around otherwise she won’t know where she is up to.

She is breaking the privacy and confidentiality of personal health records as per the legislation.

Practice 1:

She needs to finish her work as soon as she receives

Consequence:

Possibility of health records to be misplaced or misfiled which might lead to have an adverse effect on person’s health.

Practice 2:

Make sure that all the personal health records are kept safe and confidential

Consequence:

Personal records might be misused by unauthorized person.

Depression

The person with dementia

Feel depressed as they don’t remember any important dates, events or things

Their family and significant others (such as friends, their spouse/partner, etc)

Loss and grief

The person with dementia

Loss of relationship, loss of good health

Their family and significant others (such as friends, their spouse/partner, etc)

Anger

The person with dementia

poor sleep, lack of appetite

Their family and significant others (such as friends, their spouse/partner, etc)

Despair

The person with dementia

trouble concentration. isolation

Their family and significant others (such as friends, their spouse/partner, etc)

Social embarrassment

The person with dementia

sleep disturbance, fatigue

Their family and significant others (such as friends, their spouse/partner, etc)

Isolation

The person with dementia

loss of interest in different activities and hobbies

Their family and significant others (such as friends, their spouse/partner, etc)

Financial burden

The person with dementia

feeling of worthlessness

Their family and significant others (such as friends, their spouse/partner, etc)

1.

2.

3.

Amyloid plaques

Neurofibrillary tangles

What do I need to hand in for this task?

Have I completed this?

Your answers to each question

o

ASSESSMENT TASK COVER SHEET – ASSESSMENT TASK 2

Name: Anil George

Date of birth: 28/03/1992

Student ID:

Unit:

§ CHCAGE005 Provide support to people living with dementia

Student to complete

Assessor to complete

Assessment Task

Resubmission?
Y/N

Student
initials

Sufficient/
insufficient

Date

Case study 1

Case study 2

ASSESSMENT TASK 2: CASE STUDIES

Task summary:

You are to read the case studies and complete the questions that follow.

Case Study 1: Chen

Chen is 95 years old. He migrated from China many years ago but has lived largely in the Chinese community.

Chen has dementia and is unable to remember any English words. Chen is now in residential care as he is unable to look after himself.

Chen has two daughters and a son who come to see him frequently. They feel guilty that they cannot look after Chen at home but they each have jobs and do not feel able to look after him.

There is one Chinese worker (Mei) who speaks Mandarin – Chen’s first language.

Mei’s involvement in Chen’s care team will benefit Chen because he can speak his first language so that it will be easy to find out the problems of the client and get conversation to each other.

1. • Information that Chen’s family could provide to help staff understand Chen’s individual preferences and practices are: Chen’s daily activities, things he likes to do and don’t and his equipment.

2.

3.

You are member of Chen’s care team. You do not speak Chinese. You find out from the family that Chen liked playing Mahjong, but he no longer remembers how to play.

They bring a mah-jong set in for him and you notice he likes to play with the pieces and look at the symbols. He rubs the pieces between his fingers and sets them out in front of him on his table.

· Although he could not remember how to play but he can enjoy by seeing the playing material in front of him.

· Learn how to play mahjong games and observe how Chen plays the game.

· Using the Mahjong, I will try to interact with Chen with signals of code.

· Two ways of showing respect can be speaking with cod language with smiling face and try to understand his feeling to coordinate with his activities.

He is usually quite a happy person. Today he is distressed, restless and agitated. He gets up, then sits down, then gets up again. He is wringing his hands and saying the same thing over and over. He does not seem to notice you.

· I will try to convince him to calm down with signals game play and try to find out the person who can interact with his language.

Mei is brought in to talk to Chen. Apparently he is very distressed as he thinks his children should be looking after him. He thinks they have deserted him for good – he has forgotten they visited yesterday and will be coming again tomorrow to see him.

Mei can provide emotional support to him so that he can get comfort by visiting the same place again to enjoy of the environment

Chen’s family are very distressed that he was so upset and thought that they had deserted him. They would never do that and feel very guilty that they have put him into care.

They have asked that, should he get distressed again, the facility should ring them and one of them will come straight over.

They ask about how the dementia is likely to progress and what will happen to their father.

· If Chen get distressed, help him to play Mahjong and act according to the signal language so that he would feel comfortable.

·

· I can provide suggestion to his family to take him to age care facility so that he can be properly handled with care and love.

What do I need to hand in for this task?

Have I completed this?

Your answers to this case study

o

Case Study 2: Francesca

Francesca is 43 years old. She has young onset dementia caused by a lifetime of alcohol and drug abuse. Francesca lives at home with her sister and care workers visit once a week at check how Francesca is.

Today her sister tells the carer that she is worried about Francesca. She has a new boyfriend who is known to be a heavy drug user. He comes round often and hangs around with Francesca. Francesca is happy to have the attention and has started dressing very promiscuously.

There is money disappearing from Francesca’s bank account. When Francesca’s sister asks her about it, she can’t remember where the money has gone. She suspects that the boyfriend is conning it out of her so he can support his drug habit.

She is also afraid that he is giving her drugs as she often seems very spaced out after he has been to visit. She suspects they may be date rape drugs. She understands that Francesca is entitled to her own personal life, but is very concerned about what is happening.

· Sexual abuse and Drug abuse

· Workers should talk to Francesca about the situations going on her day to day life so she can easily explain her condition but she has the problem of onset dementia so she may forget the recent thing so her sister can help to report all activities of Francesca. They should be protective about her sexual activities so nobody could assault health and daily activities by reporting boyfriend activities level.

What do I need to hand in for this task?

Have I completed this?

Your answers to this case study

o

ASSESSMENT TASK COVER SHEET – ASSESSMENT TASK 3

Name:

Date of birth:

Student ID:

Unit:

§ CHCAGE005 Provide support to people living with dementia

Student to complete

Assessor to complete

Assessment Task

Resubmission?
Y/N

Student
initials

Sufficient/
insufficient

Date

Role play 1

Role play 2

ASSESSMENT TASK 3: ROLE PLAYS

Task summary:

You will need to undertake both role plays.

Role play 1: Working with a client with dementia (sundowning)

Clients with dementia can experience sundowning, the apparent worsening of confusion in the late afternoon or early evening. Their behaviour may worsen and they may experience heightened feelings of disorientation, confusion, anxiety and agitation.

For this role play, you are required to participate in a one-on-one role play with your assessor, or another person nominated to play the part of the client. This will be done in your workplace.

The role play participant will be demonstrating symptoms of a client who is sundowning. You will be required to demonstrate your ability to calm the client and demonstrate appropriate communication and support to settle the client for the evening.

The client’s care plan states the following:

§ Client is subject to sundowning when she becomes agitated, confused and sometimes aggressive

§ When sundowning the client will pace, trying to find the way back home

§ Client does not like to be touched while agitated. This seems to resolve once calm.

§ Music and reminiscing has been found to be calming

§ Client usually has a cup of herbal tea in the evening before bed – she is able to drink unassisted.

Your assessor will be looking to see that you:

§ Respond appropriately to behaviours of concern and recognise potential triggers

§ Show person-centred care when supporting the client

For example, work according to the care plan; treat the client as an individual; stay calm and be reassuring; etc

§ Use the information from the client’s care plan to address the client’s needs

§ Use effective communication and interpersonal skills to gain cooperation

For example, be calm and reassuring; be always pleasant; use friendly, approachable and non-threatening body language; etc

§ Allow the client to demonstrate their distress

§ Ensure the safety and comfort of the client

For example, help them to their chair safely; make sure the chair is comfortable for them; make sure they feel safe and secure.

§ Use appropriate strategies to calm the client.

For example, reminiscing; validation; talking to the client about their photos, etc

What do I need to hand in for this task?

Have I completed this?

You do not need to submit anything for this task

Role play 2: Martin

Martin has dementia and requires assistance with personal care. He often displays inappropriate sexual behaviour. He makes lewd comments when the staff are getting him ready for his shower and often tries to touch the female staff members when they are showering him.

He always pretends that he is not able to wash himself so that the carers will do it for him.

Martin is able to wash himself, but requires someone with him in the shower to provide assistance.

Your assessor will be looking to see that you:

§ Discuss with your team Martin’s behaviours of concern and his possible triggers

§ Contribute to your team’s discussion about Martin’s care planning and review

For example, put forward your own suggestions and discuss options.

§ Discuss with your team how to plan a person-centred approach with the aim of minimising the behaviours of concern and reduce the impact on client and care staff.

What do I need to hand in for this task?

Have I completed this?

You do not need to submit anything for this task

o

ASSESSMENT TASK COVER SHEET – ASSESSMENT TASK 4

Name:

Date of birth:

Student ID:

Unit:

§ CHCAGE005 Provide support to people living with dementia

Student to complete

Assessor to complete

Assessment Task

Resubmission?
Y/N

Student
initials

Sufficient/
insufficient

Date

Project – Behaviour Management and Review Plan

ASSESSMENT TASK 4: PROJECT – Behaviour Management and Review PLAN

Task Summary:

You are to complete a Behaviour Management and Review Plan based on Martin from Assessment Task 3, role play 2.

Name of carer:

Name of client:

Date:

Nature of behaviour of concern:

Possible reasons or triggers for behaviour:

Behaviour management strategy 1 (please describe strategy in detail):

Behaviour management strategy 2 (please describe strategy in detail):

How will strategy 1 be implemented?

How will strategy 2 be implemented?

How will strategy 1 be reviewed?

How will strategy 2 be reviewed?

What do I need to hand in for this task?

Have I completed this?

Completed Behaviour Management and Review Plan

o

ASSESSMENT TASK COVER SHEET – ASSESSMENT TASK 5

Name:

Date of birth:

Student ID:

Unit:

§ CHCAGE005 Provide support to people living with dementia

Student to complete

Assessor to complete

Assessment Task

Resubmission?
Y/N

Student
initials

Sufficient/
insufficient

Date

Project – Dementia diseases

ASSESSMENT TASK 5: PROJECT – DEMENTIA DISEASES

Task summary:

You are to complete a research project about dementia diseases.

Description: Progressive disease that destroys memory and other mental functions

Symptoms: memory loss and confusion

Usual age range of onset: :  occur in adults, but also can occur in people between 30 and 40

Changes that occur in the brain: In Alzheimer's disease, as neurons are injured and die throughout the brain, connections between networks of neurons may break down, and many brain regions begin to shrink

How the disease typically progresses

Alzheimer’s disease typically progresses slowly in three general stages: early, middle and late (sometimes referred to as mild, moderate and severe in a medical context)

What current research is being done?

Research in four areas of Alzheimer’s disease is being done in the following ways:

• understanding the pathology of the disease
• developing treatments
• identifying factors to defer or prevent the onset of the disease
• discovering an early diagnosis

Description: Multi-infarct dementia (MID) is a common cause of memory loss in the elderly.

Symptoms: mood swings, severe depression and epilepsy.

Usual age range of onset: between ages 60 and 75

Changes that occur in the brain: memory is affected

How the disease typically progresses

number of strokes, often with symptoms that develop progressively over time.

What current research is being done?

Description: Huntington disease is a progressive brain disorder that causes uncontrolled movements, emotional problems, and loss of thinking ability (cognition)

Symptoms: difficulty in speech or swallowing, slow or abnormal eye movement, impaired gait, posture or balance.

Usual age range of onset: starts in person in 30’s or 40’s

Changes that occur in the brain: decline in thinking and reasoning skills, including memory, concentration, judgment, and ability to plan and organize

How the disease typically progresses a person's functional abilities gradually worsen over time. The rate of disease progression and duration varies

What current research is being done?

understanding the pathology of the disease

Description: a kind of dementia similar to Alzheimer's but far less common which affects parts of the brain that control emotions, behaviour, personality, and language

Symptoms: mood changes, poor social skills, poor personal hygiene, repetitive behaviour.

Usual age range of onset: between ages 40 and 75

Changes that occur in the brain: causes your brain tissue to shrink, leading to the symptoms of dementia

How the disease typically progresses

What current research is being done?

understanding the pathology of the disease

Description: Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a degenerative condition with many similarities to Alzheimer's disease, but it takes hold much more quickly. Dementia develops as nerve cells die or deteriorate, and doctors do not yet know what causes the condition. There is no cure for LBD, but medication can help moderate some of the symptoms. Lewy body dementia is difficult to identify, but a combination of symptoms can assist doctors in their diagnosis.

· Symptoms: Visual hallucinations. Hallucinations

· Movement disorders.

· Poor regulation of body functions

· Cognitive problems.

· Sleep difficulties.

· Fluctuating attention.

· Depression. 

· Apathy.

Usual age range of onset: Those above 50

Changes that occur in the brain: Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a disease associated with abnormal deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain. These deposits, called Lewy bodies, affect chemicals in the brain whose changes, in turn, can lead to problems with thinking, movement, behaviour, and mood.

How the disease typically progresses

The average duration of LBD is typically five to eight years after the onset of obvious LBD symptoms but may range from two to twenty years. It is important to remember that this is a disorder that progresses gradually over years, not days or months.

What current research is being done?

• understanding the pathology of the disease

Description: Parkinson's disease is a progressive, degenerative neurological condition that affects the control of body movements

Symptoms: Rigid muscles, impaired posture and balance, loss of automatic movements are some of the symptoms of this disease

Usual age range of onset: 60 or older

Changes that occur in the brain: The brain changes caused by Parkinson's disease begin in a region that plays a key role in movement, leading to early symptoms that include tremors and shakiness, muscle stiffness, a shuffling step, stooped posture, difficulty initiating movement and lack of facial expression.

How the disease typically progresses

It is chronic and slowly progressive disorder. This means that symptoms normally appear slowly and develop gradually over time. The stage at which symptoms appear, speed at which they progress, and the severity of those symptoms will vary from person to person.

What current research is being done?

Some treatments currently being studied involve fetal cell transplantation, the use of stem cells, and gene therapy.

What do I need to hand in for this task?

Have I completed this?

Completed template

o

ASSESSMENT TASK COVER SHEET – ASSESSMENT TASK 6

Name:

Date of birth:

Student ID:

Unit:

§ CHCAGE005 Provide support to people living with dementia

Student to complete

Assessor to complete

Assessment Task

Resubmission?
Y/N

Student
initials

Sufficient/
insufficient

Date

Project – Working with clients with dementia

ASSESSMENT TASK 6: WORKING WITH CLIENTS WITH DEMENTIA

Task summary:

Part A – Workplace Project: Students are to monitor two clients with dementia in their workplace on a daily basis and complete journal entries about their experiences.

Part B – Observation: Students will be observed by their assessor as they interact and support two clients with dementia.

Part A: Workplace project

What do I need to hand in for this task?

Have I completed this?

Completed journal for each client

o

Completed client permission forms

o

Working with Clients with Dementia – Permission Form

Supervisor’s approval

I, ____________________________________________________________________________________ ,

<Supervisor’s name> approve ____________________________________________________________

<student’s name> to undertake this project with _____________________________________________

<Client’s name>.

 Approval is dependent on the following conditions:

§ The student must be supervised at all times when working with the client.

§ The client or their family may request that this project be stopped at any point. In this case, other arrangements will be made in consultation with the student, the student’s assessor and myself.

Supervisor’s name: _____________________________________________________________________

Signature:_____________________________________________________________________________

Date: ________________________

Assessment Task 6: Working with clients with dementia

Complete this journal for each of the clients that you work with. You must work with each client for at least three days. You must complete each part of the journal. As you complete the tasks, ask your supervisor to sign off each entry to indicate that it is a true account and that you followed workplace policies and procedures.

Your assessor may ask you questions about your journal entries during a workplace visit.

What was the outcomes of your discussions with the client’s family and/or carers?

Describe the client’s dementia conditions, including indicators and symptoms.

List the daily care that you provided or observed for the client.

What communication strategies work well when working with this client?

Document your use and the appropriateness of the following strategies:

§ Reality orientation

§ Prompting (reminders of day, time, relationships and so on)

§ Acceptance of person’s reality

§ Reassurance

§ Empathy

§ Reminiscing

§ Acknowledgment

§ Distraction

How did you know what types of reminiscences and routines would be helpful for this particular client?

What types of support and guidance to do you provide to those close to the client? For example, this may include carers, family, friends and/or their partner/spouse?

Are there cultural practices that are important to this client? How are these supported by the facility?

What activities does this client enjoy doing that you organised? How are these activities beneficial to the client, and how do they assist in maintaining their independence?

Does the client have any behaviours of concern?

What strategies are used to reduce the likelihood and impact of these behaviours of concern? Explain how you work with the support planning team (or similar) to determine whether the strategies are successful. What types of strategies or contributions have you put forth regarding the care of your client?

In what way is the client provided with a stable and familiar environment?

Meet with your supervisor and/or the client’s care team.

Discuss the support strategies currently in place to support this client. Are they working? Are they effective in minimising behaviours?

What documentation do you complete/work with when caring for this client? Explain your workplace’s procedures for completing, handling and storing client information, and how observations are to be reported.

Write three daily observations for the client in relation to their dementia.

Date: ______________________________

Date: ______________________________

Date: ______________________________

SUPERVISOR SIGN OFF

I confirm that the student’s journal is an accurate account.

Supervisor name:

Supervisor signature:

Date:

What was the outcomes of your discussions with the client’s family and/or carers?

Describe the client’s dementia conditions, including indicators and symptoms.

List the daily care that you provided or observed for the client.

What communication strategies work well when working with this client?

Document your use and the appropriateness of the following strategies:

§ Reality orientation

§ Prompting (reminders of day, time, relationships and so on)

§ Acceptance of person’s reality

§ Reassurance

§ Empathy

§ Reminiscing

§ Acknowledgment

§ Distraction

How did you know what types of reminiscences and routines would be helpful for this particular client?

What types of support and guidance to do you provide to those close to the client? For example, this may include carers, family, friends and/or their partner/spouse?

Are there cultural practices that are important to this client? How are these supported by the facility?

What activities does this client enjoy doing that you organised? How are these activities beneficial to the client, and how do they assist in maintaining their independence?

Does the client have any behaviours of concern?

What strategies are used to reduce the likelihood and impact of these behaviours of concern? Explain how you work with the support planning team (or similar) to determine whether the strategies are successful. What types of strategies or contributions have you put forth regarding the care of your client?

In what way is the client provided with a stable and familiar environment?

Meet with your supervisor and/or the client’s care team.

Discuss the support strategies currently in place to support this client. Are they working? Are they effective in minimising behaviours?

What documentation do you complete/work with when caring for this client? Explain your workplace’s procedures for completing, handling and storing client information, and how observations are to be reported.

Write three daily observations for the client in relation to their dementia.

Date: ______________________________

Date: ______________________________

Date: ______________________________

SUPERVISOR SIGN OFF

I confirm that the student’s journal is an accurate account.

Supervisor name:

Supervisor signature:

Date:

Reflective question

Working with clients with dementia can be stressful. 

What strategies have you put in place to keep an eye on your own stress levels and look after yourself?

Have you requested any support and, if so, what support have you obtained?

Part B: Workplace Observations

Your assessor will be looking to see that you:

§ Apply person-centred care

For example, encourage the client to make decisions they are capable of, discuss what you are doing with the client, show respect for the client’s individuality, use the clients name and refer to things in their lives, converse with the client in a respectful manner.

§ Identify each clients’ needs and wants

For example, read and interpret the client’s care plan, familiarise yourself with specific needs and wants, access information on routines with family and carers, ensure a stable and familiar environment for the client by following routines and care plans.

§ Use verbal and non-verbal communication strategies to maximise each client’s engagement

For example, smile and make eye contact with the client as you talk to them, use gentle gestures and facial expressions, speak clearly and with enthusiasm, use encouraging words, use a calm and warm tone of voice, use the clients name. 

§ Use reality orientation to gain cooperation and provide reassurance

For example, talk to the client about the time of day, refer to clocks and calendars, use the client’s name frequently, discuss current events, talk about what is happening that day, ask the client about their photos or other special items.

§ Use validation strategies to relieve each client’s stress and agitation

For example, show empathy, use reassurance, ask questions and encourage the client to talk about past experiences or people, do not judge, reman respectful, use empathetic statement such as ““You miss him,” “You were close,” “You want to be back in your house. What would you do there?”

§ Organise and assist the client with appropriate activities which maintain independence

For example, follow familiar routines, encourage client to use their existing skills (such as arts or crafts, reading, simple cooking), ensure that the client’s cultural likes and dislikes are considered, assist the client with autonomy

§ Ensure the safety and comfort of each client whilst encouraging autonomy

For example, do a visual check for hazards and potential risks, supervise the client, encourage the client to take safe risks, encourage the client to do things themselves where appropriate.

§ Complete documentation according to workplace procedures

For example, report observations to supervisor, complete and store documentation (care plan, incident reports etc) according to policies and procedures