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FAQs

Answers to common questions about the 6D Dementia approach, delivery and implementation.

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6D Dementia is a psychologically informed, person-centred framework that helps people understand and respond to distress in dementia. It provides a shared way of thinking about what may be happening for a person, why distress might be occurring, and what may help next.

6D Dementia includes CPD-accredited digital training, but it goes beyond awareness-based learning. It provides a practical framework, shared language and optional implementation support to help teams apply learning consistently in real care situations.

6D Dementia supports:

  • NHS services and system leaders
  • Care homes and domiciliary care providers
  • Frontline staff working with people living with dementia
  • Family carers

Additional offers are available for other settings where dementia-related distress is present, including ambulance services, secure settings and corporate employers.

Yes. The framework is designed to be accessible across roles and experience levels. It supports healthcare assistants, support workers, registered professionals, managers and leaders to use a shared approach appropriate to their role.

No. 6D Dementia does not replace clinical assessment, diagnosis or professional judgement. It supports reflective thinking and psychologically informed responses alongside existing clinical pathways and decision-making processes.

General

There is no single response that works for everyone. Research and practice show that distress in dementia is often a form of communication linked to unmet needs, changes in health, environment or understanding. Approaches that focus on understanding why distress is happening, rather than managing behaviour alone, support calmer, more consistent and person-centred responses.

People living with dementia may experience distress when they are frightened, confused, in pain, unwell, overstimulated or unable to communicate their needs. Changes in routine, environment, illness or care approaches can increase distress, particularly when understanding breaks down.

Staff are more able to reduce escalation when they have a shared framework to interpret behaviour, respond with empathy and act early. Psychologically informed approaches that support understanding, consistency and reflective decision-making can help reduce reactive responses and improve care experiences.

Yes. Many changes in behaviour in dementia can be understood as communication rather than deliberate actions. Seeing behaviour as meaningful helps carers and staff respond more effectively, reduce distress and support dignity.

Training is most effective when it goes beyond awareness and provides practical, psychologically informed tools that staff can use in real situations. Digital learning combined with shared frameworks and implementation support can help embed consistent approaches across teams and settings.

Dementia training that focuses on understanding distress can support workforce confidence, consistency of care and prevention. Organisations report benefits including improved staff confidence, calmer responses, and reduced risk of escalation when psychologically informed approaches are embedded alongside existing pathways.

Yes. A substantial body of research shows that psychologically informed, person-centred approaches in dementia care are associated with reduced distress, more appropriate prescribing decisions, improved staff wellbeing and better care experiences. Ongoing evaluation helps understand impact across different settings.

Staff wellbeing improves when teams feel confident, supported and able to understand complex behaviour rather than react under pressure. Clear frameworks, shared language and reflective practice can reduce moral distress, uncertainty and burnout when supporting people living with dementia.

About the 6D approach

Distress refers to a range of experiences that may show up through behaviour, withdrawal, agitation or changes in communication. In 6D Dementia, distress is understood as meaningful and often linked to unmet needs, changes in health, environment or understanding.

Rather than focusing on controlling or managing behaviour, 6D Dementia helps teams ask what the behaviour may be communicating. This shift supports earlier, calmer and more consistent responses that reduce escalation and support dignity.

Yes. The 6D Dementia approach is grounded in established psychological theory and published research on person-centred dementia care, behaviour as communication, prevention, and workforce capability. The model is also informed by real-world implementation and evaluation.

Yes. The same core framework is used across NHS services, care homes, domiciliary care and other environments, while allowing flexibility for local policies, roles and service models.

Delivery & implementation

6D Dementia is delivered primarily through a scalable digital platform, with tiered options:

  • Tier 1: CPD-accredited online micro-learning
  • Tier 2: Care-planning workshops to apply learning in practice
  • Tier 3: Leadership and implementation clinics to support embedding within organisations

Organisations can use Tier 1 alone or combine tiers depending on need.

Tier 1 modules are short and designed to fit around shifts and workloads. They can be completed flexibly over time. Tier 2 and Tier 3 sessions are delivered in structured formats agreed with organisations.

Yes. 6D Dementia’s digital training modules are CPD accredited.

Yes. While the framework remains consistent, implementation support can help organisations align 6D Dementia with local documentation, escalation pathways and governance structures.

NHS & Commissioners

6D Dementia aligns with NHS priorities including the shift from treatment to prevention, hospital to community care, and analogue to digital delivery, alongside workforce development, person-centred care and system sustainability. It supports earlier understanding and response to distress, helping services respond more calmly and consistently and reduce pressure associated with escalation and crisis.

Early delivery indicates improvements in staff understanding, confidence and consistency of care. Organisations report shifts towards understanding-led practice and improved care culture. Ongoing evaluation focuses on longer-term outcomes and system-level impact.

Yes. 6D Dementia is designed to complement existing services and pathways and can support workforce capability as part of wider transformation, quality improvement or prevention strategies.

Care providers

Yes. Digital delivery supports onboarding of new staff and consistency across teams. The shared framework helps maintain continuity even when staff change.

No. 6D Dementia is designed to make situations clearer rather than add extra tasks. The framework helps staff make sense of what’s happening and respond more confidently in the moment, especially in complex or pressured situations.

6D Dementia supports reflective practice, person-centred care and consistency of approach, which are relevant to inspection and quality frameworks. It does not replace organisational policies or regulatory requirements.

Yes. 6D Dementia offers a dedicated digital support resource for family carers. It focuses on understanding behaviour, emotional reassurance and practical strategies, and is informed by learning from health and care settings.

No. The framework is designed to be understandable and supportive, helping carers feel more confident and less isolated when behaviour changes.

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