IDEAS Team

17/06/2026

Wellbeing Wednesday

Those of you who have attended training will know that the IDEAS 💡 team love an iceberg analogy. So had to share this one.

Following on from last weeks post on kindness. Today is a reminder that what we see in others around us is only the tip of the iceberg and we don’t always know what things they might be experiencing in their personal life e.g loss, chronic pain or relationship difficulties.

National Help line
0800 111 4191.
www.wellbeing hub.scot

10/06/2026

Wellbeing Wednesday

A reminder today that small acts of kindness produce a ripple effect and can make a big
difference to those on the receiving end. As well as positively impacting the givers of kindness too.

Look 👀 out for those ripples today and see if there is any opportunity to do something kind for someone else.

05/06/2026

To mark the end of dementia awareness week- here is our last element of CEASE.

How to CEASE stress and distress in dementia: E is for Engagement

We can identify or rule out the common causes of stress and distress by using the CEASE model and this can enable us to find practical ways to help to prevent or reduce distress. How we communicate with someone with dementia can make a big difference to their wellbeing. For example allowing time for the person to communicate, taking care with body language and tone of voice, using non-verbal communication such as objects and pictures, depending on the person’s needs.

This short video clip explains a wonderful example of how getting to know the person, good teamwork and considering different approaches and ways of communicating can have very successful outcomes for the person. Staff find a way with personal care & mealtimes | Right Decisions

The clip is from Practical Dementia Resources platform from the Care Inspectorate, hosted on NHS Scotland’s Right Decision Service: Practical dementia resources | Right Decisions. It has some fantastic examples of ways in which care staff have prevented or reduced stress and distress in the people living with dementia that they support. It is well worth a look!

This video is 4 minutes 31 seconds long. The video describes how a family’s request for psychoactive medication to improve personal care was not needed after care staff changed the order that they organised personal care tasks and also identified that sitting down with a lady helped encourage her ...

04/06/2026

Book your free space at the Carers Academy in Stranraer, 9th Sept. Free respite care can be arranged to support family members to attend -phone 01387 246246 ext 32907 or email [email protected]

Alzheimer Scotland
Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service
Change Mental Health
Dumfries and Galloway Carers Centre
Dumfries and Galloway Council
Dumfries and Galloway LGBT Plus
Quarriers
Relationships Scotland Dumfries and Galloway
Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway

04/06/2026

How to CEASE stress and distress in dementia: S is for Social Contact

We can identify or rule out the common causes of stress and distress by using the CEASE model and this can enable us to find practical ways to help to prevent or reduce distress. Lack of meaningful social contact can be a source of distress for some. As little as 10 minutes a day can make a difference to people.

In this very short video clip a careworker explains how work done by care home staff to help a resident meaningfully engage with the local community had a really positive impact on the person Community engagement helps reduce stress | Right Decisions

The clip is from Practical Dementia Resources platform from the Care Inspectorate, hosted on NHS Scotland’s Right Decision Service: Practical dementia resources | Right Decisions. It has some fantastic examples of ways in which care staff have prevented or reduced stress and distress in the people living with dementia that they support. It is well worth a look!

This video is 1 minute 31 seconds. It describes the positive impact of work done by care home staff to help a resident meaningfully engage with the local community.

03/06/2026

How to CEASE stress and distress in dementia: A is for Activity.

We can identify or rule out the common causes of stress and distress by using the CEASE model. This can enable us to find a solution to the person’s distress. Lack of meaningful activity can be a cause of stress and distress for many. In the short video clip below, a care worker shares a fantastic example of how knowledge of a person’s life story can help with non- pharmacological approaches to improve dementia care and prevent distress, and reduce the need for medication.

Knowledge of occupation–B&B | Right Decisions
The clip is from Practical Dementia Resources platform from the Care Inspectorate, hosted on NHS Scotland’s Right Decision Service: Practical dementia resources | Right Decisions. It has some fantastic examples of ways in which care staff have prevented or reduced stress and distress in the people living with dementia that they support. It is well worth a look!

This video is 1 minute 42 seconds. It shows that knowledge of a person’s life story can help with non- pharmacological approaches to improve dementia care. In this case the resident’s previous occupation running a bed and breakfast service was used to explain and target non-pharmacological inter...

02/06/2026

How to CEASE stress and distress in dementia: E is for Environment

We can identify or rule out the common causes of stress and distress by using the CEASE model and this can enable us to find a solution. E is for environment and there are lots of things in the environment which can cause distress. Examples include too much noise, poor lighting, lack of wayfinding guides and poor visual contrast.

This short audio clip describes the impact on a lady with dementia of adding her husband’s aftershave to a reed diffuser in the room and making small personalised changes to the environment. Another really great example of how getting to know the person and making small changes can make a huge difference to their wellbeing.

Soft furnishings & sense of smell | Right Decisions
The clip is from Practical Dementia Resources platform from the Care Inspectorate, hosted on NHS Scotland’s Right Decision Service: Practical dementia resources | Right Decisions. It has some fantastic examples of ways in which care staff have prevented or reduced stress and distress in the people living with dementia that they support. It is well worth a look!

https://www.rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/practical-dementia-resources/environment/soft-furnishings-sense-of-smell/

01/06/2026

How to CEASE stress and distress in dementia: C is for Comfort
We can identify or rule out the common causes of stress and distress by using the CEASE model. C is for comfort and there are a number of things that can cause discomfort which can cause distress including pain, hunger / thirst, constipation, low mood, sleep issues and being too hot / cold.

The short audio clip below tells how care home staff discovered the reason that a lady was resisting personal care assistance. They were then able to do something about her discomfort, so the lady was no longer distressed. It is a brilliant example of great detective work and teamwork that made such a big difference!
Personal care & staff characteristics (height) | Right Decisions

The clip is from Practical Dementia Resources platform from the Care Inspectorate, hosted on NHS Scotland’s Right Decision Service: Practical dementia resources | Right Decisions. It has some fantastic examples of ways in which care staff have prevented or reduced stress and distress in the people living with dementia that they support.

https://www.rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/practical-dementia-resources/

https://youtu.be/OyIAgx2f5XU

27/05/2026

Wellbeing Wednesday

Flagging up free financial advice that is available to all staff working across health and social care.

With the cost of living increasingly going up, financial worries is becoming all too common and can take a significant toil on wellbeing.

If you would benefit from some confidential financial advice and support please check out the details below.

National Help line
0800 111 4191.
www.wellbeing hub.scot