Video: Good dementia care skills 'should be expected' The Dignity in Care Commission's report, a joint effort between the NHS Confederation, Age UK and Local Government Association, calls for an overhaul to give respect for human dignity the same importance as medical success rates or financial targets. An "unthinking disregard" for the needs and aspirations of older people permeates British life, from the transport system and housing to the NHS, the commission says, whilst many care homes are little more than "aimless places" with little aspiration beyond feeding, dressing and washing residents. Dementia UK specialist mental health nurse Karen Harrison Dening said that there are "a lot of mistakes" made by carers who assume their patients cannot communicate well. "Pain is also underassessed," she added. She said that this was because carers "don't recognise the way the patient with dementia is communicating their pain or where it is. It should be expected that there is a high level of knowledge and skills in dementia care. It goes beyond training, it needs good clinical leadership.