Kari Velzke describes how staff are achieving best practice and changing the way patients with this disease are being treated

This article reports on an evaluation of the Dementia Services Development Centre’s Best Practice in Dementia Care Learning Programme for hospitals, care homes including day centres and domiciliary care settings. A multi-method qualitative and quantitative evaluation was undertaken using 100 course participant feedback questionnaires, 60 course participant reflective exercises and 89 online responses to a service manager survey.

Participants’ increased awareness and understanding of dementia in practice were evidence that the learning outcomes had been successfully met. Improved practice supported these results demonstrating a more expansive use of interventions and effective interactions between staff, families and people with dementia in multiple settings.

With this training, practitioners can provide evidence-based and best practice care and support to families and people with dementia in hospitals, care homes, day centres and domiciliary care settings.