Dementia Interpreter®
Course Content
- Course Introduction
- Become a Dementia Interpreter®
- Module 1 - Definitions
- Module 2 - Communication
- Module 3 - Attitude
- Module 4 - Words and Terms
- Module 5 - Making Changes
- Module 6 - Changing Circumstances
- Module 7 - Body Language
- Module 8 - Experiential Training Introduction
- Module 9 - Changes Over Time
- Module 10 - Questions
- Experiential Training - Part 1
- Experiential Training - Part 2
- Experiential Training - Part 3
- Experiential Training - Part 4
- Experiential Training - Part 5
- Summary
Experiential Training - Part 4
So you guys are ready for the next activity? Yeah. Yes. Perfect, so very, very similar once again to what we have done before. So Dennis, as our person in care, you are going to get a statement to read to the guys. You guys are going to try and interpret and understand what Dennis is saying. Now, before, we have used the mouthpiece and the goggles. We are going to add in an extra bit of equipment this time, which I noticed you have already seen here on the table. So we have got a pair of headphones that we are going to get you to wear. We know a lot of people living with dementia will have something going on that affects how they process noise. So it could be, it could be linked to damage that is done in the brain, which is making it difficult for them to process sounds how their healthy brain would have done. It could be tinnitus, it could just be the fact that it is a noisy environment and that is a problem for someone. These headphones are not exactly going to replicate that, but they are going to put in place the same sort of barrier. So if I give you these, Dennis. Thank you. Now for this activity, we are going to do it slightly different. So I am just going to get one of you guys trying to communicate with Dennis this time. So before we go, I am going to get one of you sitting in front. And whoever is not communicating with him, you can come and stand over here, out of the way with me. I am going to give you your card as well. So exactly the same as before, have a little read of this, remember it. And then get ready to communicate. You are going to love that one. So remembered it? Yeah. Perfect, so when you are ready, if you pop your mouthpiece in, goggles on, headsets on and then we are good to go.. Wow.. Something about not being happy. And a square?. Round? It is not a square?. Kate, can you jump up for me? Rachel, can you swap in? So if you want to.. Something.. Rach? Do you want to jump out? Kate, back here.. Round.. Something.. Something is not happy.. You see.... On TV, you do not like what is on TV. You want to change the channel?. Do you guys want to swap over?. Something is rubbish.. Something is rubbish on TV.. Island.... Love Island. Love Island.. Love Island is rubbish on TV?. TV?. Love? We'll stop you there. Do you want to take your equipment off? So Dennis, how are you feeling after that one? A little annoyed. A little, why a little annoyed? Because they are stupid. Because they did not understand what I was talking about. So you feel that they are stupid because they could not understand you. Yeah. But how did you two guys feel during that then? Towards the end, I was actually feeling a bit sorry for Dennis, because I really actually wanted to understand what he was saying. So I actually found myself mimicking what he was trying to say, which I think frustrated him even more. What did you pick up that Kate was trying to almost copy you and mimic, mimic what you were doing? Yeah. I thought she was taking the mick. You thought she was taking the mick? I won't, Dennis. But isn't this is really interesting? So you were trying to let him know that you were understanding or you were trying to let him know what you think it is he is trying to communicate. But it come across to Dennis like you were taking the mickey out of him. It is horrible, wouldn't you say? Absolutely. Horrible. Sorry, Dennis. Rach, how did u feel when you were trying to communicate to Dennis here? A lot like Kate, really. Because I was trying to get what you were communicating with your hands and trying to think about what it was you were saying at the same time. And I was trying to repeat back to you, the words that you were trying to say, to see if I was getting it right. I think this is the really interesting bit with this activity. So before, we could communicate with Dennis really clearly. Really clearly, whereas this time, with those headsets on, we cannot communicate to you as easily as before. So when you were trying to communicate to Dennis what you think it is he is trying to communicate, he is not really picking up on that at all. Do you want the guys to know what was on your card? Yeah. So, "love, island", my little boat, okay, is the biggest load of rubbish on TV and that was my remote. Now, what was really interesting... And I was doing that. You were right on the... You were so close to getting that, weren't you? And Rach was sitting in front of you going "Love island? Love island rubbish on TV." I didn't see any of that. You didn't get any of that? No. No. I was really impressive myself. I could not pick up on anything. I was so caught up with trying to get the information over further, apart from taking the mick at me. So I'd make sure we reported to, that is why. What is... It is really interesting. Like I said, before, we have been concentrating on trying to understand you, but now, you cannot understand us. So we need to come up with something we can do that works for Dennis, so that he can understand what we are saying. Now, you guys haven't used any sort of touch at all to this point. When we are communicating with people, normally, how much touch would you tend to use when you're communicating with somebody? Not an awful lot. If you're trying to get somebody's attention, how would you try and let somebody know you are trying to communicate with them? If you're trying to get somebody's attention, then yes, you can use touch. You use touch. Touch is a really important tool when we are trying to communicate with people, especially if there's issues going on with auditory processing. If we can use touch in the right way to get somebody's attention, then it might help them to sort of really focus on us and it might help them then to try and understand what it is we are trying to communicate back to them. Something we talk about a lot in the different bits of training that we do is using touch on the top of the arm to gain somebody's attention. The top of the arm is a great one to use for a couple of reasons. So peripheral neuropathy, which I am sure you guys have all heard of before. Peripheral neuropathy is where your nerve endings are not working properly anymore. And it is hands, it is feet, possibly face as well as it progresses, the top of the arm probably not going to be affected at all. So touch, then reception on top of the arm, that's going to be good. If you're touching someone's hand, which a lot of us might do to get someone's attention, if they've got peripheral neuropathy, it might be that they don't feel that, or that it could be uncomfortable or painful for someone. So that's one of the reasons we talk about the top of the arm. The second reason why the top of the arm tends to work really well for people, if you do this on top of someone's arm, a lot of people's natural reaction is to go like that and dip your head in. So that's me communicating to you without using any words, "I need your attention," and "I need your attention." And then when we have got Dennis' attention, might make it a little bit easier to communicate with him. Something else that was a bit different at a time, so you were obviously only communicating with one of them at a time and they kept swapping. That annoyed me. Why did that annoy you? Because they just didn't show an interest, like they could not be bothered. Like they could not be bothered. Yes. Then go... I cannot help it, I am going. That's how it felt like. How did you guys find it, where you were swapping in and out? It was kind of like, "Am I going to get it this time?" and then "It is okay, I am going to step back. I am going to see if they get it. No? Okay, so I am going to then try and see if I can get it." And I could see that Dennis was getting quite frustrated because in the end, you were like "Oh, come on, then." Yeah. I think you turned to me at one point and sighed and had a harrumph, if that's the right word. Yeah. And I did it in my direction. "Come on, man, come on." When we are communicating with someone, and when you've got more than one person involved in that, it gets a bit tricky, doesn't it? And especially you got people jumping in and out. What was quite interesting there with your approach to both of them was fairly similar. So you know these guys, you work with them, you're quite comfortable with them. What you tend to see, especially with somebody living with dementia, they are going to have different relationships with people. So with someone who they are trying to communicate who they are comfortable with, it might be a little bit easy, easier for them, than someone coming in who they are not familiar with and not comfortable with. And this is where it is really important that, yes, we know that person, we are comfortable with that person, but they need to know us and be comfortable with us as well. It could be in certain situations, that person's partner is the best person to speak to or a son or a daughter, or a close friend. We are going to have different relationships with lots of different people. And that's something else we need to consider when it comes to communicating and trying to interpret what people are trying to communicate to us. Now, I mentioned about touch, and you guys haven't been using touch. When we go onto the last activity in a second, you are allowed to use touch. With touches, it is got to be appropriate for people. So Dennis, are you comfortable with the guys using a bit touch to get your attention if... Yes. Absolutely. Fantastic. What would you consider to be appropriate touch? Shoulder? Shoulder? Fantastic. With touch, as well as it being appropriate, we need to make sure there is like a clear go. So we need to have in our minds an idea of why we are using touch. And it has got to be purposeful as well, it cannot be like we said, something that people won't pick up on, or won't know what it is. The shoulder, nice, clear in communication there, what we are trying to do with that touch.
Experiential Training for Care Staff: Sensory Impairments
Overview of the Activity
Simulating sensory challenges in dementia care.
This video continues the experiential training for care staff, where speech and vision impairments have already been simulated. The next activity introduces headphones to mimic how individuals with dementia process noise.