Dementia: Professional resources
Resources for nursing staff created as part of the RCN's commitment to improving care for people with dementia
The Triangle of Care
The Triangle of Care for Dementia was developed in partnership with the Royal College of Nursing and in consultation with carers, people with dementia and professionals. It is based on the original Triangle of Care and is aimed at acute care hospitals. Available as a guide on the Carers UK website, it is made up of six standards, which you can use to ensure that carers are included and involved in the care of any of your patients with dementia, particularly in hospital settings. It is also relevant to all services that provide care for people with dementia. See: The Triangle of Care. Carers Included: A Guide to Best Practice for Dementia
To reflect the Scottish context, the Triangle of Care has been adapted to suit the Scottish legislation, initiatives and policies around dementia. This Scottish version has been a collaborative effort between Carers Trust Scotland, Royal College of Nursing Scotland, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, University of Stirling Dementia Services Research and Dementia Carers Voices. See: The Triangle of Care – carers included: A guide to best practice for dementia care in Scotland.
The Carers Trust Wales is supporting the implementation of the Triangle of Care standards for carers accessing services in local health boards across Wales. Funded through the RCN Foundation, the recent development of a Triangle of Care for dementia Wales edition has been a collaborative effort between the Royal College of Nursing and Carers Trust Wales. It has been developed from the original Triangle of Care for dementia, which was co-designed with carers, people with dementia and practitioners, with the support of Uniting Carers and Dementia UK. See: The Triangle of Care Carers Included: A Guide to Best Practice for Dementia Care in Wales.
UK policies
England
Northern Ireland
Department of Health. Improving dementia services in Northern Ireland - a regional strategy
Scotland
Wales
Public Health Wales. Dementia care
NICE
NICE. Dementia. All NICE guidance, advice, NICE Pathways and quality standards.
Organisations and further resources
Alzheimer's Society. This is me. 'This is me' is a simple leaflet for anyone receiving professional care who is living with dementia or experiencing delirium or other communication difficulties. The leaflet can be used in any setting – at home, in hospital, in respite care or in a care home.
College of Optometrists. PrOVIDe: Prevalence of Visual Impairment in Dementia. Correcting the vision of a person with dementia can improve their quality of life. This NIHR-funded research explores the prevalence of a range of vision problems in people with dementia aged 60-89 years, and explores to what extent are these conditions undetected or inappropriately managed.
Dementia Evidence Toolkit. The Dementia Evidence Toolkit is for commissioners, care providers, people working in health and social care and people with dementia and their families.
Dementia UK. Dementia UK provides specialist dementia support for families through our Admiral Nurse service.
Department of Health and Social Care. Making a difference in dementia, nursing vision and strategy: refreshed edition. This refreshed strategy reinforces the fundamental role nurses play in providing care and support to people, so they can live well with dementia.
GOV UK. Dementia profile: April 2021 update. Updated statistics by PHE on dementia prevalence, hospital admissions, care and mortality, at the national and subnational geographical areas in England.
Health Education England. Dementia. Dementia awareness resources include: an online course e-Dementia: Introduction to Dementia and the Dementia Core Skills Education and Training Framework (PDF).
Join Dementia Research. This service allows people to register their interest in participating in dementia research and be matched to suitable studies.
National Audit of Dementia. Round 4 Audit Report (2019). There are 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK. This is expected to rise to one million by 2025 and continue to increase to two million by 2051. This report presents the Round 4 results of the National Audit of Dementia.
Dementia Action Alliance. A national alliance for dementia care and research organisations across England connecting, sharing best practice and taking action on dementia.
NHS England. My future wishes: Advance Care Planning (ACP) for people with dementia in all care settings. This document will help you to develop an Advance Care Plan for people living with dementia.
NICE & SCIE. Dementia – discussing and planning support after diagnosis. NICE and SCIE have developed a new quick guide with the aim of informing people and their family and carers about the support that is available after a diagnosis of dementia.
Scottish Government. Your health, your rights. Charter of Patient Rights and Responsibilities.
University of Cambridge. Visual identifiers in the care of people with dementia. Exploring the ethical and legal issues including questions around patient autonomy, consent, stigma, inadvertent disclosure, and privacy.
Young Dementia UK. YoungDementia UK is the dedicated national charity for younger people with dementia and their families.
Dementia & COVID-19
- Alzheimer's Society: Worst hit: dementia during coronavirus
- British Psychological Society. Supporting older people and people living with dementia during self-isolation (PDF)
- NDAA. Dementia-Friendly Hospital Charter, Revised 2020: COVID-19 Recommendations (PDF)
- NHS England: Dementia wellbeing in the COVID-19 pandemic (PDF)
- Royal College of Psychiatrists: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital care for people with dementia
- SCIE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for social care
Wendy Mitchell - 'Somebody I Used to Know'
Wendy Mitchell, author of the memoir 'Somebody I Used to Know', shares her experience of living with dementia at the The North Devon Care Homes Team Annual Conference on World Alzheimer's Day 2018. You can also hear more from Wendy in her blog, 'Which Me Am I Today'.
RCN resources
- RCN. SPACE principles video (Youtube)
- RCN. Older People in Care Homes. Sex, Sexuality and Intimate Relationships. This guidance has been developed to help nurses and care staff work effectively with issues of sexuality, intimate relationships, sexual expression and sex, particularly people living in care homes. Its aim is to facilitate learning, support best practice and serve as a resource to help nurses and care staff address the needs of older service users in a professional, sensitive, legal and practical way.
- RCN. Dementia Care Principles for People in Prison. This document sets out the five SPACE principles, based on evidence gathered from people living with dementia, carers and practitioners, that form a shared commitment to improving dementia care in prisons.
Page last updated - 24/05/2023
