Accredited Level 3 Certificate in Dementia Care

The Level 3 Certificate in Dementia Care qualification through its 7 mandatory units provides a comprehensive overview of how dementia affects individuals and families, alongside best-practice approaches for delivering safe, person-centred, and compassionate support.

Throughout the course, learners will develop a deeper understanding of:

• The causes, types, and progression of dementia
• How to support communication, memory, and orientation
• How to promote wellbeing, engagement, and meaningful activity
• Equality, diversity, inclusion, and rights in dementia care
• How to ensure dignity, autonomy, and person-centred decision-making
• Professional responsibilities in safeguarding, teamwork, and safe practice

Below is a breakdown of the core units included in the course.

Unit 1: Understanding Dementia

In this unit, you will explore the different types of dementia, how symptoms develop over time, and the impact dementia can have on cognition, communication, emotions, and daily living.
You’ll also examine risk factors, how dementia is understood within health and social care, and the importance of early, supportive interventions.

Unit 2: Person-Centred Approaches in Dementia Care

This unit focuses on how to tailor care to each individual’s preferences, history, routines, and lived experiences. You’ll learn:

• How person-centred care promotes dignity, independence, wellbeing, and trust
• How this approach forms the foundation of all dementia support.

Unit 3: Communication and Interaction in Dementia Care

Dementia can affect speech, memory, processing, and interpretation of information.
In this unit, you will explore effective communication techniques, including:

• Using calm, clear verbal communication
• Supporting non-verbal communication
• Reducing confusion and enhancing understanding
• Adapting interaction styles to changing needs

You’ll learn how to create supportive environments where individuals feel heard, respected, and understood.

Unit 4: Supporting Positive Interaction, Occupation and Activity

This unit focuses on helping individuals with dementia remain engaged, active, and connected. You’ll learn about:

• How meaningful activities support well being, maintain identity, reduce distress, and promote emotional and social connection.

The unit also highlights how to adapt activities to suit cognitive and physical needs.

Unit 5: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Dementia Care

In this unit, you will learn how equality, diversity, and inclusion must be embedded into dementia care. Topics include:

• Understanding how background, culture, beliefs, and identity shape lived experience
• Challenging stigma and discrimination
• Ensuring fair access to support
• Respecting individual rights and preferences

This unit helps ensure care remains respectful, inclusive, and aligned with legal and ethical frameworks.

Unit 6: Supporting Individuals to Exercise Choice and Rights

This unit explores how to maintain autonomy and uphold the rights of individuals living with dementia. You will learn how to:

• Support decision-making
• Promote independence wherever possible
• Work within the Mental Capacity Act and best-interest processes
• Encourage involvement in care planning
• Protect dignity, privacy, and consent

The unit reinforces the importance of professional responsibility and ethical practice.

Unit 7: Principles of Medication and Well being in Dementia Care

This unit provides a high-level understanding of how medication is used within dementia care settings without giving any clinical instructions or guidance.
You will explore:

• The purpose of commonly used medication types
• The importance of monitoring well being and responding appropriately within your role
• Working safely within organisational procedures
• Supporting individuals in a respectful, person-centred way
• The focus is on well being, safe practice, and understanding your responsibilities — not on administering medication.