Explain roles and responsibilities of health and
social care workers in improving the health and
quality of life for people with dementia.
Health and Social Care workers are very important when it comes to people who are suffering
from dementia, as it can vastly improve the individual’s quality of life, as well as drastically
worsening it. From nurses, to domiciliary carers, and to GP’s.
If an individual who is suffering from dementia is in hospital, it is important for the nurses
working around them to ensure they are doing their job properly, as this will result in improving
the quality of their life. First of all, it is important that the nurse is patient with the individual, as
not only is this an act of being professional, but it gives the individual a chance to say or do
what they are trying to do. For example, the individual may be struggling with what they want
to say, as they cannot think of the right word. By the nurse remaining patient and calm, it gives
the individual the opportunity to finish off what they want to say. This creates a feeling of self-
worth for the person suffering from dementia, as it shows that the nurse is interested in what
they are trying to say, and shows they are important to them. This also relates to nurses getting
to know the individual by chatting with them about non-health related things, to create trust
between them. This will ensure that the service user feels a level of importance, and doesn’t
feel like they are a burden on the nurses, as well as everybody else around them. Both of
these responsibilities of a nurse will help to improve their quality of life. As the nurses distribute
medications, it is important it is done correctly because their medication may possibly be
distributed to help their symptoms of dementia, or slow the development down – and even
stop it altogether in some cases. To ensure their medication is taken properly, resulting in the
best result, it is necessary for the nurses to ensure that they are taken on time, and the correct
dosage, with it being logged down each time. As well as providing the medication, it is a must
that the nurse stays with the patient while they are taking the medication, because it is possible
that they could try to not take their medication, and hide it. This will result in the deterioration
of their health, so it is important. This is one of the examples of how a nurse can help to
improve the individual’s quality of health and life through their job role.
Carers are also responsible in helping to improve dementia sufferers’ quality of life and the
quality of their health. It is very hard for people with dementia to remain independent, and in
many cases the family of the individual is either not there to help them, or the family feels that
carers will do a better job for their loved one. If the dementia sufferer stays living in their home,
they will have carers come out to the house – which is domiciliary care – where they will
distribute medications, make them meals and drinks, and do a bit of housework. It is important
for carers to create a personal bond with the service user, because not only does the carer
have access to their homes, but they may be the only person the individual sees all day. So
in order to help improve their quality of life, the carer must create a good relationship with the
service user, involving trust. This can be done through socialising with one another, and
sharing memories from the past, for example. A service user suffering from dementia may
need to be fed their meals, and this requires patience and caring from the carer’s part. They
may need to be fed because they may no longer acquire the strength in their
arms/wrists/hands to physically feed themselves, or they may not actually be bothered to eat.
This happens when dementia sufferers’ no longer realise that they need food to survive, so
they just stop eating. To ensure the individual’s health is as good as possible, it is crucial that
their carer is making sure they are receiving the right amount of nutrition, and in some cases
this must be through feeding them. As well as this, it is important for the carer to communicate
with the individual efficiently, as they may be deteriorating without it being obvious, so in order
social care workers in improving the health and
quality of life for people with dementia.
Health and Social Care workers are very important when it comes to people who are suffering
from dementia, as it can vastly improve the individual’s quality of life, as well as drastically
worsening it. From nurses, to domiciliary carers, and to GP’s.
If an individual who is suffering from dementia is in hospital, it is important for the nurses
working around them to ensure they are doing their job properly, as this will result in improving
the quality of their life. First of all, it is important that the nurse is patient with the individual, as
not only is this an act of being professional, but it gives the individual a chance to say or do
what they are trying to do. For example, the individual may be struggling with what they want
to say, as they cannot think of the right word. By the nurse remaining patient and calm, it gives
the individual the opportunity to finish off what they want to say. This creates a feeling of self-
worth for the person suffering from dementia, as it shows that the nurse is interested in what
they are trying to say, and shows they are important to them. This also relates to nurses getting
to know the individual by chatting with them about non-health related things, to create trust
between them. This will ensure that the service user feels a level of importance, and doesn’t
feel like they are a burden on the nurses, as well as everybody else around them. Both of
these responsibilities of a nurse will help to improve their quality of life. As the nurses distribute
medications, it is important it is done correctly because their medication may possibly be
distributed to help their symptoms of dementia, or slow the development down – and even
stop it altogether in some cases. To ensure their medication is taken properly, resulting in the
best result, it is necessary for the nurses to ensure that they are taken on time, and the correct
dosage, with it being logged down each time. As well as providing the medication, it is a must
that the nurse stays with the patient while they are taking the medication, because it is possible
that they could try to not take their medication, and hide it. This will result in the deterioration
of their health, so it is important. This is one of the examples of how a nurse can help to
improve the individual’s quality of health and life through their job role.
Carers are also responsible in helping to improve dementia sufferers’ quality of life and the
quality of their health. It is very hard for people with dementia to remain independent, and in
many cases the family of the individual is either not there to help them, or the family feels that
carers will do a better job for their loved one. If the dementia sufferer stays living in their home,
they will have carers come out to the house – which is domiciliary care – where they will
distribute medications, make them meals and drinks, and do a bit of housework. It is important
for carers to create a personal bond with the service user, because not only does the carer
have access to their homes, but they may be the only person the individual sees all day. So
in order to help improve their quality of life, the carer must create a good relationship with the
service user, involving trust. This can be done through socialising with one another, and
sharing memories from the past, for example. A service user suffering from dementia may
need to be fed their meals, and this requires patience and caring from the carer’s part. They
may need to be fed because they may no longer acquire the strength in their
arms/wrists/hands to physically feed themselves, or they may not actually be bothered to eat.
This happens when dementia sufferers’ no longer realise that they need food to survive, so
they just stop eating. To ensure the individual’s health is as good as possible, it is crucial that
their carer is making sure they are receiving the right amount of nutrition, and in some cases
this must be through feeding them. As well as this, it is important for the carer to communicate
with the individual efficiently, as they may be deteriorating without it being obvious, so in order
