Unit 52
Unit 52 - Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Dementia Care Practice
1. Understand that each individual’s experience of dementia is unique
1.1 Explain why it is important to recognise and respect an individual’s heritage.
People’s customs and religious practices are very important to them. It defines who they are. Some like their dietary needs met regarding not eating pork, or being a vegetarian or pescaterian so this needs to be adhered to. Some people would only like people of their own sex handling their care and personal care needs. Some will not accept blood transfusions. We need to honour their wishes to the best of our ability and give people choice.
1.2 Compare the experience of dementia for an individual who has acquired it as an older person with the experience of an individual who has acquired it as a younger person.
It may be even more difficult to care for the younger, they are still somewhat physically strong, and if the dementia provokes "acting out" it could be a bigger problem. The differences would also depend on the degree of dementia and whether or not the person will accept help and guidance. Most people recognize the start of dementia in themselves and will go to great lengths to attempt to compensate. Often they are resistant when they feel like the caretakers are interfering with what they are doing. Dementia has many stages and the experience is usrely different for the person, more so depending upon the stage than their age.
1.3 Describe how the experience of dementia may be different for individuals
• who have a learning disability
• who are from different ethnic backgrounds
• who are at the end of life
Dealing with a learning disability: Dementia generally affects people with learning disabilities in similar ways to people without a learning disability, but there are some important differences. People with a learning disability are at greater risk of developing dementia at a younger age - particularly those with Down's syndrome. They
1. Understand that each individual’s experience of dementia is unique
1.1 Explain why it is important to recognise and respect an individual’s heritage.
People’s customs and religious practices are very important to them. It defines who they are. Some like their dietary needs met regarding not eating pork, or being a vegetarian or pescaterian so this needs to be adhered to. Some people would only like people of their own sex handling their care and personal care needs. Some will not accept blood transfusions. We need to honour their wishes to the best of our ability and give people choice.
1.2 Compare the experience of dementia for an individual who has acquired it as an older person with the experience of an individual who has acquired it as a younger person.
It may be even more difficult to care for the younger, they are still somewhat physically strong, and if the dementia provokes "acting out" it could be a bigger problem. The differences would also depend on the degree of dementia and whether or not the person will accept help and guidance. Most people recognize the start of dementia in themselves and will go to great lengths to attempt to compensate. Often they are resistant when they feel like the caretakers are interfering with what they are doing. Dementia has many stages and the experience is usrely different for the person, more so depending upon the stage than their age.
1.3 Describe how the experience of dementia may be different for individuals
• who have a learning disability
• who are from different ethnic backgrounds
• who are at the end of life
Dealing with a learning disability: Dementia generally affects people with learning disabilities in similar ways to people without a learning disability, but there are some important differences. People with a learning disability are at greater risk of developing dementia at a younger age - particularly those with Down's syndrome. They