The final project has a number of options, enabling you to select an option that reflects your unique abilities
and interests. They include:
Option 1: Portfolio
Option 2: Debate
Option 3: Poster
Option 4: Creative Expression
Option 5: Brochure
Option 6: Education Workshop
Option 7: Arts-informed project
Option 8: Formal lecture
You may work in a team with one or two others, depending on the option chosen.
Information on the final project options is outlined below. A list of general questions for each of the options
follows and should be submitted with the project.
Criteria for Final Project
Your final project should:
Show evidence of understanding the philosophy of the course (i.e., person focus vs. task-centred).
Demonstrate insight into the behaviour and needs of persons with dementia.
Apply knowledge from the course to an appropriate project and medium of expression.
Demonstrate an understanding of concepts and dementia care strategies discussed during the course
which include:
communication strategies
care planning
understanding behaviours
prevention/intervention strategies
recreation/meaningful activity strategies
activities of daily living strategies
assessment strategies
nutritional strategies
identifying partner-in-care needs
stress management
Demonstrate professionalism through the use of appropriate language and the practice of confidentiality.
Be presented in Session 9.
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Descriptions of Options
Option 1 — Portfolio
Create a portfolio on caring for a person with dementia by gathering information on a specific topic (from
the course) that you found interesting and would like to know more about. Include a list of the research
articles and books that you found helpful in exploring your topic and include a brief explanation of why
each was chosen. Also include your own experience and reflection with the topic and how working on it has
affected a) your understanding of dementia, and b) your role in supporting a person with dementia. Submit
the portfolio to the facilitator at the last session. Remember to follow the Project Guidelines and answer all
Project Presentation Questions.
Option 2 — Debate
A debate would require a minimum of two individuals to prepare an oral presentation illustrating different
perspectives of a specific issue related to dementia. The key points for the debate should be documented and
given to the facilitator (for example, segregation [dementia care unit] and/or use of restraints in all long-
term care sites). Total time for the debate would be 15-20 minutes and it would be held during Session 9.
Remember to follow the Project Guidelines and answer all Project Presentation Questions.
Option 3 — Poster
Create a poster which uses pictures, images, or graphs as well as text to explore some aspect of caring for a
person with dementia. Some objectives might be:
T o increase understanding of dementia through a range of methods including traditional research,
stories, ethnography, or lived experience.
T o showcase the latest research on person-centred care practices for persons living with dementia.
T o showcase efforts or initiatives which have helped improve the health and well being of persons
with dementia.
For this option, the learner would present and explain the poster to the class at the last session
(presentation time: 10 minutes). Remember to follow the Project Guidelines and answer all Project
Presentation Questions.
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Option 4 — Creative expression such as a video, play, poem, song or puppet show
Develop and present a video, play, poem, song or puppet show which demonstrates a thorough
understanding of a topic covered during the course (i.e., the experiences presented by dementia in either a
home care or long-term care setting).
The video, play or puppet show should be 8-10 minutes in length and be presented during Session 9.
With the poem or song option, include a discussion that explains the meaning of your work (i.e., explain
any symbolism used). The poem or song would be presented during Session 9. Remember to follow the
Project Guidelines and answer all Project Presentation Questions.
Option 5 — Brochure
Create a brochure for an actual or fictional organization or program that demonstrates the person-centred
care principles presented in this course. The brochure should demonstrate an understanding of dementia
and address specific topics or strategies discussed in this course. For example, a brochure on nutrition
would identify issues with meeting the nutritional requirements for persons with dementia and highlight
strategies to support good nutritional health. The brochure format would utilize an 8” x 11” or 8” x 14”
sheet, front and back, and include the use of graphics. It would be presented to the class and submitted
to the facilitator at the last session. Remember to follow the Project Guidelines and answer all Project
Presentation Questions.
Option 6 — Education Workshop
Design a 30-minute workshop session to educate staff and/or other partners in care on a specific aspect of
caring for persons with dementia. The objective is to enhance the well-being of persons with dementia and/
or improve the working environment for staff. For example: develop a workshop session for maintenance
workers or family members on how their interactions with the person with dementia contribute to the
supportive environment. An overview of your workshop would be presented during Session 9. Remember
to follow the Project Guidelines and answer all Project Presentation Questions.
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Option 7 — Arts-informed project
This final project option calls upon you to reflect on your past, present, and possible future journeys as
someone supporting a persons living with dementia. In this final project you will explore meanings, issues,
and strategies.
For example, you may choose to:
reflect on a range of aspects that have contributed to your growth as a care provider of persons with
dementia
reflect on a specific topic of care that you learned in this course
reflect on your occupation as a whole. This might include a reflection on how your occupation has
changed over time, how it is perceived and represented within society (i.e., in the media), the general
needs and concerns of people who work in your occupation, how your occupational role is connected
with other occupations and professions, etc.
Represent these critical reflections in an artistic way. Be creative. Consider using media such as clay,
photography, painting, drawing, collage, papier mâché, quilting, wood, fabric, etc.
In addition to your creation, include a brief write up (one to two single-spaced pages) that describes and
explains the artistic piece you created (i.e., why you chose this medium/media, what message you hope to
convey, what meanings this artistic piece has for you, etc.). Remember to follow the Project Guidelines and
answer all Project Presentation Questions.
Option 8 — Formal lecture
Write a formal lecture which focuses on a key topic related to dementia; for instance, research and describe
the process by which a person is assessed for dementia. You may draw on research from academic journals,
stories, critical reflections on your own experiences, and/or other information that you have acquired from
accurate and reliable sources. Include an outline at the beginning of your lecture. Your lecture time is 10
minutes so plan to make your lecture concise, clear, and attention-grabbing.
It is recommended you practice (and time) your lecture a few times before presenting it. Consider
including visual aids to support your lecture. You may also wish to spice up your lecture with a very short
“sound bite” (such as music, a short audio recording of an interview with an expert, a very short piece from
a DVD, etc.). Share a list of references used with your audience (for example, by putting the reference list
in a handout or a power point slide). Provide a written copy of your lecture with a reference list to your
facilitator. Remember to follow the Project Guidelines and answer all Project Presentation Questions.
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Project Guidelines
Choose a project option to present one (or more) aspects of care for persons with dementia. Get
approval from facilitator to proceed with the chosen project option. Doing this earlier in the course
allows you more time to put your project together. If you wish to focus on topics covered in the last few
sessions, you can still do preliminary research and organize your thoughts and ideas for your chosen
project. Speak to the facilitator if you have any questions about your option.
Obtain permission/consent from subjects (or their family members), if appropriate for your project,
i.e., if you are including photos or other visual images of persons with dementia or others, including
classmates, colleagues, etc. in your project. Families can be a valuable resource for information that will
assist you in completing your project. When involving families as a resource make sure to follow ethical
guidelines. (See your facilitator for more details).
The project is a “work in progress” . It should begin early in the course and be expanded and refined as
you gain insights from the course material. After each session, ask yourself how the material applies to
your project. Consider caregiving principles and/or tools from the course that are relevant to your topic.
Reflect the overall philosophy of Dementia: Understanding the Journey in your final project.
Illustrate insights gained about dementia (rather than repeating course material presented); include
personal reflections and experiences.
Use concepts presented in the course to demonstrate your understanding.
Plagiarism is unacceptable. Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s words or ideas (taken from any
source, including the Internet), as though they were your own. Specific examples of plagiarism include,
but are not limited to: copying written text without using quotation marks around that written text
and/or without acknowledging the source; paraphrasing and/or summarizing the original wording too
closely to the original; failing to acknowledge the source you have paraphrased and/or summarized;
giving your facilitator work that has been written in full or in part by someone else. If you are uncertain,
please consult with your facilitator.
Follow ethical guidelines (for example, if you are using photographs or other visual images of anyone,
ensure you have written permission from your subjects).
Use appropriate language and terminology.
Provide an abstract (a project summary which can be included in the portfolio), on the poster,
brochure, the accompanying description of your arts-informed project or in the lecture notes. It can be
read aloud before beginning your debate, play, puppet show or workshop, etc. An abstract is a succinct
description (summary) of your work (e.g., 150-250 words). It should:
Explain why your work is important — set the context and answer the question, “So what?”
Describe the objective(s) of your work.
Succinctly state insights, conclusions, and/or recommendations. This is what most people want
to know.
Present the material in a well-organized, formatted, consistent, clear, and concise manner regardless of
the format used, (i.e., portfolio, poster, brochure, debate, video, play, puppet show, lecture, workshop
presentation, or arts-informed project).
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Edit the material for spelling, grammar, clarity, etc.
Be prepared to present your project to the class during the final session.
Answer the questions below, describing your project, and submit this with your project to the facilitator.
This will be considered part of the final assessment.
Submit the project on time.
Adhere to time allotted for your project presentation.
Project Presentation Questions
Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Project Option: _________________________________________________________________
Project Title: ___________________________________________________________________
Date: ___/___/_____(mm/dd/yyyy)
The following questions are to be completed for each of the project options:
1. Write an summary of your project.
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2. What course concepts and dementia care strategies (e.g. communication strategies, nutrition strategies)
have you chosen to illustrate? Why? Reminder: you need a minimum of two strategies.
3. What care principles and/or tools did you refer to in your project?
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4. Explain how this project changed your attitude and behaviour towards support persons living with
dementia.
ICONS USED IN THIS TEXT BOOK:
Indicates Activities Indicates Discussions Indicates Key Concepts
This text book does not hyphenate text. Footnote URLs found with hyphens actually contain those hyphens.
Dementia: Understanding the Journey
make a poster by following poster instructions
