The University of Derby is now offering a free online (MOOC) course on dementia! The course runs 6 weeks starting from July 13, and the only requirements are that you need to have access to a computer and internet, and have a decent understanding of English.

This free, six-week course will help you learn how to improve the lives of people with dementia, adopting a person-centred and integrated approach. It is suitable for anyone interested in dementia or for carers of people with dementia.

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Bridging the Dementia Divide: Supporting People Living with Dementia

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates there are currently 35.6 million people living with dementia, a number which will double by 2030 and triple by 2050 (WHO, 2012). Dementia has already had a significant impact on society, and this will only increase.

With this in mind it is important for society to understand the challenges of living with dementia as well as to understand the importance of the correct care for people with dementia.

This course will look at  the global challenge of dementia. It focuses on integrative collaboration and partnership working to reduce barriers between servicesand to provide seamless care for people living with dementia.

This course will help you understand the level of care required when caring for someone with dementia, as well as teaching you about communication and compassion, and how you can help the person living with dementia to maintain independence, control and a good quality of life.

We will also consider what happens at the end of life: the reality is that there is currently no cure for dementia and the final phase of life can be a challenge not just for the person living with dementia but also their family and other people around them.

During this course you can expect to:

• demonstrate a conceptual understanding of dementia, its context and wider perspectives
• examine dementia in the global context and it’s implications
• learn to communicate effectively with people affected by dementia
• understand the importance of independence, control and quality of life and learn how you can support that
• support people living with dementia and their families during the final phase of life