Dementia Training Programme

Primary Care Dementia Training Programme

Please find below information on an exciting upcoming training programme centred around dementia.

These sessions will cover a wide range of topics including: Recognising early signs & symptoms of dementia, pre-referral assessment, differentiating dementia, delirium and depression, pharmacological management of the different dementia subtypes, post-diagnostic support in the community, behavioural and emotional expressions of unmet need in dementia, advance care planning / end of life in dementia and many more.

These sessions will take place online on the Learning Management System on the below dates from 13:00 - 14:00:

• Wednesday 15th October - Prevention and Early Recognition ~
  * Please note bookings for this session are now closed - This session is being recorded so if you would like to access this after the session, please email traininghub@taurushealthcare.co.uk *
• Wednesday 12th November - Detecting and referring possible dementia
• Wednesday 19th November - Depression, Delirium and Dementia Subtypes
• Wednesday 28th January *Booking details and link to come*
• Wednesday 4th February (Please note this date has been changed, it was originally scheduled for the 3rd, but will now be taking place on the 4th) *Booking details and link to come*
• Wednesday 11th February *Booking details and link to come*
• Wednesday 25th February *Booking details and link to come*

Details and booking pages will be updated ahead of each session.

Please note each session is booked separately.

Detecting and referring possible dementia - Wednesday the 12th of November

Learning objectives:

• To learn the defining features of dementia, as a syndrome or disability of change in cognitive skill, caused by change in brain health. The spectrum of severity and underlying pathology.
• To be familiar with common presentations of dementia in primary care, with emphasis on history and soft signs
• To understand the role of testing mental skills
• To develop skills to differentiate dementia from other memory presentations, including mood, medication side effects, sleep disorders, menopausal symptoms etc.
• To understand the what specialist assessment would be like for a patient and the pros and cons of assessment.
• To consider the role of choice and consent and the need to talk openly about dementia at the time of referral.
• The referral pathway for suspected dementia

Speakers for the session: Dr Adrian Vos and Dr Mohammed Ali

Depression, Delirium and Dementia Subtypes - Wednesday 19th November 

Learning objectives:

• To be able to define and clinically differentiate delirium and dementia
• To be able to describe and recognise reversible causes of cognitive impairment
• To appreciate the complexities of diagnosing and treating depression in older adults
• To be aware of the main dementia subtypes including clinical features and epidemiology

Speaker for the session: Dr George Blanchard

Dr Blanchard is a consultant Old Age Psychiatrist for the Redditch and Bromsgrove Older Adult CMHT, covering Redditch locality. He completed his training in General Adult and Old Age Psychiatry in 2024, having trained in Hertfordshire, London and the West Midlands. His interests include sleep medicine, neuropsychiatry and psychopharmacology.

Pharmacological Management in Dementia - Wednesday 28th of January

Learning Objectives:

• To build confidence in prescribing in primary care.
• To highlight the importance of monitoring as part of the shared care protocol.

Speaker for the session: Dr Felicity Jones

Felicity is an Older Adult Consultant Psychiatrist currently working for both the Early Intervention Dementia Service and Community Older Adult Mental Health Team in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. Felicity’s special interests are medical education and palliative care.

For support and enquiries please email traininghub@taurushealthcare.co.uk