Course Title: Provide support to people living with dementia

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2015

Course Code: HWSS5564C

Course Title: Provide support to people living with dementia

School: 365T Global, Urban & Social Studies

Campus: City Campus

Program: C3304 - Certificate III in Aged Care

Course Contact : Renee Costa

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 99250886

Course Contact Email:renee.costa@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 55

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

There are no formal pre-requisites for this course, however you will need to obtain a police check in order to participate in the practical placement and gain work in the sector as per legislative requirements.
You need knowledge of spoken English, as well as English literacy to a standard that is likely to meet workplace needs to enter the course. If you would like advice on the standard of English that is recommended for the course please contact the Course Co-ordinator via the details above.
 

Course Description

In this course you will learn about how to provide support to those affected by dementia. You will learn how to support clients with dementia in a variety of settings including family homes, community day settings and residential care. You will learn about how to provide 
the appropriate activities to maintain dignity, skills and health of clients at the optimum level. You will also learn how to implement strategies which minimise the impact of behaviours of concern, and how clients can adopt self-care strategies. 


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CHCAC319A Provide support to people living with dementia

Element:

1. Provide support to those affected by dementia

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Work with a basic understanding of dementia
1.2 Support individual needs of people with dementia using a person-centred approach to care and address individual needs for a stable familiar environment
1.3 Work with awareness of the impact of physical, social and emotional aspects of the environment on the person with dementia
1.4 Work with awareness of the impacts that dementia may have on family, carers and significant others
1.5 Recognise witnessed signs consistent with financial, physical or emotional abuse or neglect of the client and report to an appropriate person
 

Element:

2. Provide support to those affected by dementia

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Use a range of communication strategies to maximise engagement of the person with dementia such as eye contact, gentle touch (where appropriate), short simple statements
2.2 Gain cooperation and provide reassurance as appropriate to individual clients by using reality orientation including:
• reminders of the day, the time, relationships, occasions
• reassuring words, phrases and body language
2.3 Use a range of validation strategies to relieve distress and agitation in clients such as:
• Empathy
• Acceptance of the person's reality
• Acknowledgment
• Allowing expressions of distress
• Providing verbal and/or physical reassurance
• Use reminiscences frequently to connect with clients
 

Element:

3. Provide appropriate activities to maintain dignity, skills and health of client at optimum level

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Provide activities which aim to maintain independence, using familiar routines and existing skills
3.2 Provide activities that are appropriate to the individual, reflecting their cultural likes and dislikes, in order to bring back pleasurable memories
3.3 Ensure all activities provided focus on ensuring the safety and comfort of the client balanced with autonomy and risk taking
3.4 Use purposeful and meaningful activity to enhance self-esteem and pleasure in life, to minimise boredom and to distract from or eliminate behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia
3.5 Use family carers and significant others as a resource, where appropriate, to assist in developing appropriate activities by accessing information about client reminiscences and routines
3.6 Provide support and guidance to family carers and significant others where appropriate to assist them to understand the disease, its impact on the person and some approaches to providing care
 

Element:

4. Implement strategies which minimise the impact of behaviours of concern

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Identify behaviours of concern
4.2 Identify potential triggers for behaviours of concern for specific individuals
4.3 Contribute to team discussion on care planning and care plan review to minimise behaviours
4.4 Implement strategies to minimise the likelihood of and reduce the impact of behaviours on the person and others
4.5 Regularly review strategies that are implemented to ensure maximum effectiveness and reflect changes in the care plan
 

Element:

5. Implement self care strategies

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Monitor own stress level in relation to working with people with dementia
5.2 Use appropriate self care strategies and seek support if required
 

Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the required skills and knowledge to demonstrate your competency in the above elements.


Details of Learning Activities

In this course you will develop the knowledge and skills required to provide support to clients with dementia in a variety of settings including family homes, community day settings and residential care. There will be individual and group activities during classes, field visits and guest speakers. The Certificate III Aged Care includes two field placements with a total of 130 hours across the whole program and the knowledge and skills you gain in this course will be developed further through placement


Teaching Schedule

Week Topic
1  Introduction to Unit
What is Dementia ?
 
2 Emotional Well being and Older People
3 Depression, Anxiety and Dementia
4 Implement strategies which minimise the impact of behaviours of concern


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

During sessions you will be directed to industry sources of information and provided with a workbook to complete throughout the course. You will also be directed to other learning materials and websites if required.


Overview of Assessment

In this course you will be assessed on the knowledge and skills that you have developed to meet the competency requirements of this course. You will complete assessments to determine your knowledge throughout the course which ensures you are equipped to perform your job role in the Aged Care sector, and the second method of assessment is where you give practical demonstrations of the tasks required in the job role for this course. These assessment tasks are conducted after you have had adequate preparation for the assessment and you will be supported throughout the assessment process. Some of the practical tasks will be done in the purpose-built facilities at RMIT; others will be done in your placement in a workplace setting.
 


Assessment Tasks

There are four assessment tasks for this unit. These assessment tasks are:

1. short answer questions

2. case study

3. in class communication questions

4. placement questions


Assessment Matrix

A detailed matrix will be available from the teacher

Other Information

Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students


Cover Sheet for Submissions
Hardcopy: you must complete a submission cover sheet for every piece of work submitted in hardcopy.
E-Submission: you will complete an e-Declaration for every piece of work submitted online.
The signed cover sheet or e-Declaration acknowledges that you are aware of the plagiarism implications.

Attendance
It is strongly advised that you attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.

Applying for Special Consideration
If you are seeking an extension of more than seven calendar days (from the original due date) you must lodge an Application for Special Consideration form, preferably prior to, but no later than two working days after the official due date. Late applications will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances. For information about Special Consideration and how to apply, see: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration

Assessment Appeals
If you believe your assessment result or final result is wrong please contact the course coordinator and provide the reason why you think your result is incorrect. Valid reasons for seeking a review of results include:
a) You believe an error has occurred in the calculation of the grade; or,
b) You believe the assessment did not comply with criteria published in the Course Guide; or,
c) You believe the assessment did not comply with University Policies on Assessment (i.e. an error in process has occurred).
Full details of the procedure (including appeals procedure) can be located at this RMIT site: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/policies/academic#assessment

Academic Integrity
Academic integrity means honesty and responsibility in scholarship through respecting the work of others whilst having the freedom to build new insights, new knowledge and ideas. RMIT University upholds the values of academic integrity as fundamental to the scholarship undertaken by all members of its community. Whenever you refer to another person’s research or ideas (either by directly quoting or paraphrasing them) you must acknowledge your source.
If you are even in doubt about how to properly cite a reference, consult your lecturer or the academic integrity website: http://www.rmit.edu.au/academicintegrity
The RMIT library provides tools to assist with your referencing http://www1.rmit.edu.au/library/referencing

Plagiarism and Collusion
Plagiarism and collusion constitute extremely serious academic misconduct, and are forms of cheating. You are reminded that cheating, whether by fabrication, falsification of data, or plagiarism, is an offence subject to University disciplinary procedures. Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person as though it is your own. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University. Plagiarised material can be drawn from, and presented in, written, graphic and visual form, including electronic data, and oral presentations. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material used is not appropriately cited. Plagiarism is not acceptable.
Examples of plagiarism include:
• Copying sentences or paragraphs word-for-word from one or more sources, whether published or unpublished, which could include but is not limited to books, journals, reports, theses, websites, conference papers, course notes, etc. without proper citation;
• Closely paraphrasing sentences, paragraphs, ideas or themes without proper citation;
• Piecing together text from one or more sources and adding only linking sentences;
• Copying or submitting whole or parts of computer files without acknowledging their source;
• Copying designs or works of art and submitting them as your original work;
• Copying a whole or any part of another student’s work; and
• Submitting work as your own that someone else has done for you.
• Enabling Plagiarism: the act of assisting or allowing another person to plagiarise or to copy your own work is also an offence.
For further information, please see the RMIT Plagiarism Policy –  http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=sg4yfqzod48g1 – and the RMIT Student Conduct Regulations – http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=r7a7an6qug93

Plagiarism Software
The originality verification software Turnitin may be used in this course. For details, see: http://www.turnitin.com

Complaints Procedure:
RMIT University is committed to providing a harmonious study and work environment for all students and staff. The University recognises your right to raise concerns about academic, administrative or support services without recrimination and has policies and procedures to assist in the resolution of complaints.
Most issues are resolved at the local level and you are encouraged to take steps to resolve your issue locally. The student complaint procedure details steps to take if your problem is not resolved or you believe the response you received is unreasonable.
Student Complaints Policy: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/policies/studentcomplaintspolicy
Student complaints Procedure: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=i1lexipvjt22
Student Complaints Form: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/v4ujvmyojugxz.pdf

Course Overview: Access Course Overview