The STAR training is appropriate for all persons, from professionals to relatives, caring for a person with dementia at home.
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Dementia is the principal source of disability and dependency amongst the elderly. It currently affects around 10 million people in the WHO European Region, with its numbers set to double in the next ten years. The STAR Training Programme is an online course that improves the skills of carers supporting individuals diagnosed with dementia, and improves healthcare services. STAR is aimed at all user groups that are caring for a person with dementia from home, whether carers, relatives or professionals. It will be soon available in the following languages:
English
Dutch
Italian
Finnish
The STAR course is based off leading dementia expertise, with all modules available at different skill levels — therefore catering for beginners, intermediate, and advanced users. Content will be distributed in a three-layer online community structure, in particular with a focus on new technology-based interventions for monitoring and supporting patients. All modules are accompanied by interactive materials such as exercises, videos, and games, for a better user experience. This will enable skilling and re-skilling for appropriate professional care for people with dementia, even when these are still living at home and with their families.
STAR first launched in 2010, as a collaborative project between seven different European countries. These include Sweden, Malta, Romania, Spain, England, the Netherlands, Italy, and Northern Ireland. Their combined expertise made it possible to gather, and combine, in-depth research, and create greater cohesion and access to dementia care material across Europe. STAR Training provides a clearer understanding of the disease and how to provide better support and care, and improve European mobility of dementia care workers.
Who are the main course authors?
Teacher and Senior researcher at Amsterdam UMC
Professor of Psychological care in Dementia at VU medical center
Learn basic facts and misconceptions about dementia, and its most common symptoms. Identify key characteristics of various types of dementia, and how this affects different areas of the brain. Recognize factors that can increase or lessen the risk of dementia.
Gain knowledge on person centred care by understanding people’s behaviour with dementia, and the importance of a person’s background and life history. Understand the impact dementia has on families, friends and community, and learn how to offer the right support. Discover the abilities people retain in spite of the difficulties faced.
Understand the process and impact of dementia diagnosis, and the help and support available; the key roles and skills within multidisciplinary support services, and non-pharmacological treatments and anti-dementia drugs.
Identify memory loss, perception, and recognition difficulties. Learn how dementia affects each individual differently, and the impact and difficulties of daily living activities. Understand housing and environment requirements, and legal aspects of care.
Gain knowledge on the behavioural and psychological symptoms related to dementia, and their cause and effect. Learn about adaptation problems and how to tackle them.
