Elements and Performance Criteria

Strategies to respond to challenging behaviours include:
Distraction
Current events
Reminiscences
Music, dancing
Walking
Talking reassuringly about familiar and favourite topics
Behaviour modification
Addressing physical triggers to behaviour including pain
Alternative therapies

Activities include:
Daily living activities such as:
Maintaining personal safety
Communication (speech, writing, non-verbal communication)
Eating and drinking
Mobilising and transferring (moving from place to place and position to position)
Attending to personal hygiene (bathing, laundering personal linen)
Dressing and undressing
Attending own spiritual needs
Grooming
Expressing sexuality

Instrumental activities such as:
Accessing financial resources and allowances
Paying bills and regular outgoings
Shopping
Preparing meals
Climbing stairs
Maintaining household (cleaning, laundry, decor, repairs)
Travelling by private and public transport
Interacting with others and socialising
Accessing leisure, recreational and sporting activities
Recreational and sporting activities
Craft and creative activities
Socialising
Reminiscing activities
Spiritual activities

Ensuring safety and comfort of client while addressing the risks associated with:
Ability to find their own way
Ability to negotiate traffic
Wandering or other behaviours relating to agitation
Behaviours relating to psychotic experiences or mood disorders
Ability to safely prepare, cook and store food and drink
Ability to control temperature of water
Ability to use home appliances
Ability to maintain personal and home security
Ability to manage own finances
Ability to recognise dangers in their environment
Ability to recognise the safety of others

Environmental strategies may include:
Orientation to day, date, time of day, place, person, carer, family relationships, weather
Adequate lighting to decrease risk of misinterpreting their environment
Manipulate stimuli such as activity, noise, music, lighting, decor
Provision of space (to pace, wander)
Security
Safe storage of toxic chemicals

Critical aspects of assessment:
Communicating effectively with clients with dementia
Utilising creative, least restrictive approaches to behaviours of clients with dementia

Essential knowledge:
Nature of dementia as a neurological condition which is progressive
Common indicators and symptoms of dementia
Basic knowledge of current research or dementia including relevant statistics
Support services available
Plan of care for the clients
Organisational protocols and policies related to own area of work
The importance of the physical, social and emotional environment for people with dementia
Importance of relevant activities and communication in working with people with dementia
Limitations and legal ramifications of physical, chemical and psychological restraint
The range of appropriate strategies to be implemented when working with people with dementia

Essential skills:
Broad range of communication approaches eg. Reminiscences
Ability to establish and maintain a relationship that takes into account the clients' and family's individual differences (eg. Cognitive abilities, cultural background, language skills)
Oral communication skills (language skills) and non-verbal communication skills (eg. Touch, smiling, gestures) necessary to develop a trusting relationship with a person who has dementia and their family
Ability to use communication techniques to enhance communication and facilitate the clients' interaction within their environment
Adapting activities to meet individual needs
Cultural sensitivity
Observation and analysis of client needs

Resource implications:
Access to appropriate workplace(s) where assessment can be conducted

Consistency in performance:
Assessment may include observations, questioning and evidence gathered from the workplace on more than one occasion

Context of assessment:
This unit is most appropriately assessed in the workplace under the normal range of workplace conditions but partial assessment could be undertaken under simulated conditions