Dementia
This page brings together a wide range of dementia resources to support providers in delivering the highest quality dementia care. Here you will find local and national guidance, practical tools, best practice resources, webinars, and links to HCPA’s dementia training and education offer, all in one place. The aim is to help care providers across care homes, homecare, and supported living develop their knowledge, skills, and confidence in supporting people living with dementia.
If you cannot find what you are looking for, or would like further advice, support, or training related to dementia care, please get in touch with the HCPA team. We are here to help. Contact us at assistance@hcpa.co.uk and we will be happy to support you.
Invisible
What is Dementia?
Resources
- Dementia UK: What is Dementia?
- Pocket Medic: Residential Dementia care training videos
- Alzheimer’s Association: What is Dementia?
- Alzheimer’s Society: What is Dementia?
- NHS: What is Dementia?
- World Health Organisation: Fact sheet
- Alzhiemer’s Society: Fact sheet (other languages available)
- Alzheimer’s Research UK: Fact sheet
- Dementia statistics
- Alzheimer’s Research UK: The Brain Tour App
- Alzheimer’s Society: Dementia symptoms & areas of the brain
- Alzheimer’s Research UK: Brain scans & Dementia
- National Institute on Aging: What happens to the brain in Alzheimer’s disease?
Type Specific Guidance
- Dementia UK: Types of Dementia
- Parkinson’s disease & Dementia
- Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA)
- Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)
- Alzheimer’s Association: Korsakoff’s Syndrome
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism (Wernike-Korsakoff Syndrome)
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation
- Navigating young onset Dementia from pre-diagnosis – webinar – Young Dementia Network
Future Support
- Caring Herts CIC – Supporting lonely & socially isolated people libing in North Herts & Stevenage
- Age UK Hertfordshire
- Health & Independent Living Support (HILS)
- Reach Out Hertfordshire – Hearing people at home
- Samaritans
- Heritage Lounge – Premium day centre for older adults in Letchworth
- Crossroads – Caring for life
Care Planning & Life Stories
Resources
- Alzheimer’s Association: Daily Care Guides
- Skills for Care: Dementia Resources
- Alzheimer’s Society: “This is Me”
- Dementia UK: Life Story Template
- Dementia UK: Advance Care Planning for Dementia
- Gold Standards Framework: Advance Care Planning
- Dementia UK: Free Will Writing Service
- Resuscitation Council UK: ReSPECT Form
- RESTORE2 & RESTORE2 Mini (Official)
- Marie Curie: End-of-Life Dementia Care
Communication and Language
- Dementia Community: “Behavioural Expressions of Need” (Use of Appropriate Language)
- Alzheimer’s Society: Sight & Hearing Loss
- Age Scotland: Dementia & Sensory Challenges (Nationally Relevant)
- Alzheimer’s Society: Communication Guide
- Dementia UK: Communication Tips
- Inclusive Language Guide: Talking About Dementia
- Alzheimer’s Society: Positive Language
- Dementia Community: “Behavioural Expressions of Need” (Use of Appropriate Language)
- Alzheimer’s Society: Sight & Hearing Loss
- Age Scotland: Dementia & Sensory Challenges (Nationally Relevant)
- Alzheimer’s Society: Communication Guide
- Dementia UK: Communication Tips
- Inclusive Language Guide: Talking About Dementia
- Alzheimer’s Society: Positive Language
Life Stories
HCC Residential and Nursing Home Dementia Care Standards
Understanding Behaviour
Resources
- Alzheimer’s Society: Understanding & Managing Behavioural Changes
- Alzheimer’s Association: Stages of Dementia & Behaviours
- Dementia UK: Managing Distress
- Hertfordshire Behavioural & Psychological Symptoms of Dementia Checklist
- NHS: Coping with Behavioural Changes
- Dementia UK: Sundowning
- Alzheimer’s Society: How Dementia Changes Perception (Time Shifting, Hallucinations, & Delusions)
- NHS: Dementia Friendly Environments
- Dementia UK: Hot Weather
- Dementia UK: Cold Weather
- Alzheimer’s Society: “When the Clocks Change”
- Trauma informed care in Dementia
- Mental Health
Understanding Depression, Delirium & Dementia (3 D’s)
- NHS: Delirium Support
- Dementia UK: Delirium & Dementia (Symptoms, Causes & Treatment)
- Delirium Resources & Videos (Based in W. Yorkshire but Nationally Relevant)
- British Geriatrics Society: PINCH ME Tool
- Marie Curie: Delirium in Palliative Care
- Alzheimer’s Society: Depression, Anxiety, Apathy & Dementia
Medication and Health Topics
Resources
Activities and Lifestyle
Resources
- Culturally Appropriate Dementia Care Resources
- Culturally Sensitive Reminiscence Tools
- Mansfield Museum Windrush Exhibition (Online Access – FREE!)
- Managing everyday tasks as a person with dementia | Alzheimer’s Society
- NHS: Activities for Dementia
- Dementia UK: Meaningful Activities
- Dementia UK: Use of Aromatherapy
- Playlists for Life
- “Music for My Mind” Playlists
- Music24 Community Music Charity
- Take Note: Musical Resources & Strategies
- Daily Routines (Material Citizenship)
Sexuality, Identity & Relationships
Signposting
| Service name | Link to website | E-mail address | Contact number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer’s Society | Click here | N/A | 0333 150 3456 |
| Dementia UK (Admiral Nurses Helpline) | Click here | helpline@dementiauk.org | 0800 888 6678 |
| Memory Support Hertfordshire | Click here | info@memorysupportherts.org.uk | 0300 131 3946 |
| Age UK (Dementia-Specific Guides) | Click here | contact@ageuk.org.uk | 0800 678 1602 |
| Carers in Herts | Click here | N/A | 01992 586 969 |
| Dementia Carers Count (Family Support Service) | Click here | info@dementiacarers.org.uk | 0800 652 1102 |
| Rare Dementia Support | Click here | contact@raredementiasupport.org | Helpline is only open to members |
| Office of Public Guardian: Lasting Power of Attorney (LPAs) | Click here | customerservices@publicguardian.gov.uk | 0300 456 0300 |
Useful Organisations & Support Avenues
- Alzheimer’s Research UK
- Alzheimer’s Association
- Dementia Friends
- Dementias Platform
- TIDE: Together in Dementia Everyday
- Dementia Voices
- Young Dementia Network
- Dyscover (Aphasia & Progressive Aphasia Support)
- HCC Landing Page: Living with or Caring for Someone with Dementia
- iSupport Training for Adult & Young Dementia Carers (FREE)
- NHS: Managing Legal Affairs for Someone with Dementia
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Attendance Allowance
- Young Dementia Network: Strategies for Managing the Financial Impact of YOD
- Dementia Friends
Training Videos and Webinars
Training videos
- Alzheimer’s Society: 7 Dementia Stories
- Alzheimer’s Research UK: What is Dementia?
- Do I See What You See? (PCA Awareness)
- SCIE: Dementia from the Inside (Lived Experience)
- SCIE: Dementia & Sensory Loss
- Alzheimer’s Research UK: A Walk-Through Dementia
- Alzheimer’s Research UK: A Walk-Through Dementia (At Home)
- Alzheimer’s Research UK: A Walk-Through Dementia (Supermarket)
- Alzheimer’s Society: Dementia-Friendly Communities
- Dementia UK: Different Symptoms of Young-Onset Dementia
- Dementia UK: Gail’s Story (Young-Onset Dementia)
- The Lewy Body Society: What is Life with LBD Really Like?
- Rare Dementia Support: Lewy Body Dementia (A Short Film)
- Rare Dementia Support: Semantic Dementia/PPA (A Short Film)
- Life History Work: Good Practice
- Supporting Language Changes in Early Dementia
Webinars
Managing Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) – 19.06.25
Introduction Webinar to Power of Music – Music in Herts Dementia Care – 10.06.25
The Power of Music – Music in Herts Dementia Care project aims to increase the access of personalised music experiences for individuals living with dementia Settings through upskilling staff working in care homes.
The project is designed to improve the quality of life for people living with dementia (PLWD) by integrating music into their care routines, considering their musical preferences, histories and cultural backgrounds.
The project is focused on creating personalised experiences by delivering a training program where therapeutic music approaches are taught to POM champions within care services and then providing an ‘accreditation’ for the care service. These services will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to use evidenced therapeutic approaches in group and individual engagement, including a starter pack of music equipment.
Webinar included:
-Details of the training program
-Accreditation process
-Joining Criteria
-Q&A
-Introduction to Theory of Change and Project Evaluation Approach
-Theory of Change Breakout room Workshop. The workshop is designed to bring together key stakeholders within care homes to define our vision for change, identify necessary steps, and ensure alignment on outcomes and impact. Insights and expertise will be invaluable in shaping a comprehensive framework that drives meaningful results.
Hertfordshire Care Homes Dementia Support Services Webinar – Monday 18th March 2024
Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust hosted a webinar for all older people residential and nursing providers to explain the different services available, including when and how to access. This session is ideal for leaders, managers, and seniors within residential and nursing settings.
- Click here for the webinar recording
- Click here for the webinar slides
- Click here for the dementia checklist
- Click here for the dementia checklist
Study Session Resources
Dementia Best Practice for Care Managers & Champions
This session, for compliance leads and Champions, will focus on roles and responsibilities within all care services to meet current best practice in dementia care, focused on day-to-day care including communication, life stories, meaningful engagement, behaviour support strategies and capacity, as well as reminding providers of the Hertfordshire Dementia Strategy.
- Click here for the AM session slides (Residential and Nursing Homes)
- Click here for the PM sessions slides (Homecare and community settings)
Governance
Resources
- NICE: Assessment, Management & Support for People Living with Dementia & Their Carers
- Alzheimer’s Society: Dementia & The Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Alzheimer’s Society: Dementia “We” Statements
- Dementia Training Standards Framework
- NICE: Quality Standards for Dementia Care
- Hertfordshire Dementia Strategy 2023 – 2028
- CQC: Meeting the Accessible Information Standard
Get in touch
Send us a message and we will get back to you as soon as we can, or you can give us a call on 01707 536 020