Last Updated on September 23, 2016

The Department of Health has refreshed its dementia nursing strategy Making a Difference in Dementia Nursing: Vision and Strategy. The 20-page policy document sets out the roles and responsibilities for nurses providing care and support for people with dementia.

Making a Difference in Dementia Nursing: Vision and Strategy sets out how nurses can provide high quality compassionate care and support for people with dementia, so they can live well with dementia within all care settings, including a person’s own home.

The strategy aims to support all nurses to be responsive to the needs of people with dementia, continue to develop their skills and expertise, and achieve the best outcomes for people with dementia, their carers and families. It builds on the original strategy, published in March 2013.

The document is aimed at registered nurses; directors of nursing; staff working in health and social care services; chairs and members of local safeguarding adult boards; lecturers and those who deliver professional training.

The refreshed vision defines a nurse's role in dementia care as

• interpersonal;
• varied in action and intensity;
• taking place in a variety of settings;
• welcoming individuals, family, significant others and carers and respecting their diversity and culture.

It also sets out a new vision for this, as well as covering a nurse's role in all phases of dementia. The refreshed strategy also includes details of the Dementia Core Skills Education and Training Framework that was published in October 2015. The framework sets out the core skills and knowledge that would be transferable and applicable across different types of service provision. The refreshed strategy document concludes with useful guidance and resources.