Majority of care staff don’t receive dementia training when first looking after elderly
More than half of adult social care staff start caring for patients without any dementia training, according to new research.
The Alzheimer’s Association is now calling for such training to be made mandatory, highlighting concerns that “baristas may need more training to make great coffee” compared to the preparation given to care workers caring for vulnerable adults.
The charity commissioned analysis from Leeds Beckett University Dementia Research Center and agency IFF Research.
Their study examined 119 training packages across 53 social care providers in England and surveyed 184 care staff.
The findings revealed that less than half (47 per cent) of social care staff had received dementia training as part of the induction process.
This results in more than half of staff starting to care for individuals with dementia without any prior instruction.
It was also found that half of existing dementia training packages contained only one or two hours of dementia-specific content, with just over a third (39 per cent) of training meeting the recommended level for staff who regularly support people living with dementia.
The charity said only 52 per cent of staff surveyed felt very competent in the care they provided.
The organization said most dementia care was provided through social care rather than the NHS, but it was up to the Government how to respond to the call for training to be compulsory, although this could also be done through the health service.
Around one million people in the UK have dementia and this figure is expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040, the association said.
Michelle Dyson, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, said gaps in education could put people with dementia at risk of “inadequate care”.
He said: “An hour of dementia training does not even scratch the surface. Anything less than comprehensive training leaves care workers unprepared, leaving them to deal with situations for which they are not equipped, which can put people with dementia at risk of inadequate care.”
“Baristas can receive more training to make good coffee than care workers receive to provide dementia care. Care staff want and deserve better, they need dementia training that gives them the skills and confidence to provide the best possible care.
“Without high-quality education in dementia, social care will remain dangerously inconsistent, leaving families uncertain whether their loved ones will be supported with dignity and expertise.
“We need to close the education gap with better dementia care so everyone benefits. It’s crucial that the UK Government adds a requirement for all relevant adult social care workers to the dementia plan.”
The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services said it welcomed “any call to develop skills and provide adequate training for care staff as part of improving the lives of those living with dementia”.
Its chief executive, Jess McGregor, said: “Our social care system is grossly underfunded and we need appropriate planning and funding to support training provision and ensure all care workers have access to comprehensive vocational training and are reimbursed for participation.
“This is a high priority given the incredibly valuable role care workers play in the lives of people and their families who receive care and support in our communities.”
Baroness Louise Casey, who is leading a major review of adult social care in England, suggested in a speech last month that dementia was not given due attention in health services because it mainly affects retired older people.
He called for urgently increased investment in dementia trials and the appointment of a new full-time dementia tsar.
The Department of Health and Social Care said at the time it was “accelerating work to transform dementia care and research, including the creation of a dementia leadership role to drive action forward”.
The Government was contacted to obtain views on compulsory education.
