Dementia awareness training films
This free online training course is designed specifically for people volunteering at memory cafes. Delivered through a series of nine films, the course is illustrated throughout with the voices and experiences of people living with dementia.
The course content, delivered by Steve Milton (Innovations in Dementia and previously Alzheimer’s Society), is built around the following topics: 1) What is dementia?; 2) Memory; 3) Everyday tasks and recognition; 4) Perception; 5) Emotional impact; 6) Nothing to do with dementia; 7) Communication; 8) Different realities; and 9) Behaviour – does it matter?
You can also complete the course with guidance and feedback from your memory cafe coordinator. To do this, your coordinator and you can sign up here (your coordinator must register before you can). While doing the course, you will be then invited to submit answer a series of questions based on the course – these will then be forwarded to your coordinator.
1. What is dementia?
Understand what’s meant by dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and why dementia is not simply ‘part of the ageing process’.
Use this film on your website (click for embed code)
<iframe title=”vimeo-player” src=”https://player.vimeo.com/video/448715042?h=ea69199c9c” width=”640″ height=”360″ frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>
2. Memory
Learn how dementia affects the brain’s ability to recall information, and what you can do to support people struggling with memory.
Use this film on your website (click for embed code)
<iframe src=”https://player.vimeo.com/video/448729373?h=7a27524762″ width=”640″ height=”360″ frameborder=”0″ allow=”autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>
3. Everyday tasks & recognition
Learn about how failing to recognise people can be a frightening experience, and about how to support people in breaking down tasks into smaller steps.
Use this film on your website (click for embed code)
<iframe src=”https://player.vimeo.com/video/448748289?h=bd0c9216ad” width=”640″ height=”360″ frameborder=”0″ allow=”autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>
4. Perception
This film explains how people with dementia can see things in the world around them differently, and how we can detect things that may cause problems.
Use this film on your website (click for embed code)
<iframe src=”https://player.vimeo.com/video/449012936?h=74ae2a12cd” width=”640″ height=”360″ frameborder=”0″ allow=”autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>
5. Emotional impact
Understand how to respond and support someone with dementia when emotions run high, and the importance of peer support.
Use this film on your website (click for embed code)
<iframe src=”https://player.vimeo.com/video/449569769?h=b9f07fb40e” width=”640″ height=”360″ frameborder=”0″ allow=”autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>
6. Nothing to do with dementia
If someone appears more confused than they were you last saw them, it could be due to changes that are unrelated to their dementia condition.
Use this film on your website (click for embed code)
<iframe src=”https://player.vimeo.com/video/449582148?h=644773991c” width=”640″ height=”360″ frameborder=”0″ allow=”autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>
7. Communication
Understand the difficulties a person with dementia might have in expressing themselves, and the importance of being a good listener.
Use this film on your website (click for embed code)
<iframe src=”https://player.vimeo.com/video/449603380?h=d0756ff014″ width=”640″ height=”360″ frameborder=”0″ allow=”autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>
8. Different realities
Learn about concepts such as ‘reality orientation’ and how to talk to someone whose experience of reality may be different.
Use this film on your website (click for embed code)
<iframe src=”https://player.vimeo.com/video/449642810?h=883677fb2f” width=”640″ height=”360″ frameborder=”0″ allow=”autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>
9. Behaviour – does it matter?
Is ‘problem behaviour’ really a problem? This film explains the need to understand the different frame of reference someone with dementia might have.
Use this film on your website (click for embed code)
<iframe src=”https://player.vimeo.com/video/449668959?h=3195e7702c” width=”640″ height=”360″ frameborder=”0″ allow=”autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>
Using our films
As well as being able to view our films here on our website, we have made them free to download and embed under a Creative Commons licence – allowing you to use them offline and in your own website or training resources.
You can download any of the videos from our dementia training course above by clicking on the ‘Download this film’ link. You or your website developer can also embed films on your own web pages by clicking the ‘Use this film on your website’ link next to each film, and copying and pasting the HTML code displayed.