Information about these resources

This Practical Dementia Resource tool is designed by and for care staff and people with lived experience of dementia. It supports the delivery of 'The Dementia Strategy for Scotland', complements existing dementia training and aligns to the 'Promoting Excellence Framework'. An advisory group was set up to steer the development of this tool, with membership including representatives from those with lived experienced, care home and home care staff, third sector organisations, Care Inspectorate, NHS education for Scotland, Scottish Social Services Council, Scottish care, health and social care partnerships, dementia consultants, nursing, allied health professionals, psychiatry, and psychology.

It contains short, real-life stories and tools that facilitated a non-pharmacological approach to improved dementia care. It promotes a non-pharmacological approach as a first line for dementia care, in line with SIGN guidelines 168.

These resources are listed under six main agreed themed headings. However, this resource is not designed to be followed in any sequential order and it is important that all areas (or themes) are considered when looking to improve a person's quality of life.

These stories and tools on this shared learning platform are examples of what staff have done that have led to better outcomes for the people involved. However, it is important to recognise they will not suit everyone’s needs but serve to offer potential suggestions and to encourage you to explore alternative solutions that may help. Each example is the result of firstly getting to know and understand the individual, being curious to find solutions to providing better care and closely monitoring the outcomes of any changes made. If initiating suggestions given from the stories shared, we would encourage you to safeguard that person-centred care is in place and that you complement your learning from these stories with the relevant training needed to ensure you have the confidence and knowledge required.

While many of the stories take place in one care setting the principles can apply to other settings. Where we think a story is specific to one care setting only this is indicated on the relevant subtheme tile.

Tools on this site have led to improved care in one care setting but are shared with the intention that people can adapt to be relevant to their own local context.