Live online · In-house option
Dementia, Delirium & Acute Confusion
Not every change in a person with dementia is caused by dementia.
About the course
Learning that makes
a practical difference.
A sudden change in behaviour or cognition can be an important warning sign.
A resident living with dementia who suddenly becomes more confused, sleepy, agitated, withdrawn or unable to carry out their usual activities may be experiencing delirium or another acute illness.
If this change is simply attributed to dementia, important opportunities for early assessment and treatment may be missed.
This practical course helps staff distinguish between chronic cognitive impairment and acute change from a person's normal baseline.
What you will learn
- Understanding dementia
- Understanding delirium
- Dementia versus delirium
- Recognising acute changes in cognition and behaviour
- Hypoactive and hyperactive delirium
- Importance of knowing the person's normal baseline
- Infection and sepsis
- Dehydration
- Pain
- Constipation
- Urinary retention
- Hypoxia
- Medicines
- Blood glucose abnormalities
- Environmental factors
- Behaviour as communication
- Person-centred communication
- When behavioural change may indicate physical illness
- When to escalate concerns
- Information healthcare professionals need
- SBARD communication
- Documentation and monitoring
Who will benefit from this course
Care assistants, senior carers, nurses, dementia leads, team leaders and managers.
The benefit to your service
This course helps staff avoid the dangerous assumption that “They are confused because they have dementia.” Instead, staff learn to ask: “Is this normal for this person, or has something changed?”
Read the course introduction
Imagine that one of your residents lives with dementia. Today they are much sleepier, more confused and not eating.
Would your staff simply record that the resident was confused - or would they recognise that this is an acute change and could indicate infection, dehydration, pain, hypoxia, medication problems or another illness?
That distinction can make an enormous difference.
Our Dementia, Delirium and Acute Confusion course teaches staff that dementia does not explain every new behaviour.
We help staff understand the resident's baseline, recognise acute change, consider possible causes, gather relevant information and escalate appropriately.
The aim is not to turn care staff into diagnosticians. It is to help them recognise when something is different and make sure that the person gets the assessment and support they need.