About Dr. Cathal Lynch – Founder of Dementia Care Systems

Dr. Cathal Lynch is a Senior Clinical Psychologist, specialising in older adult mental health and dementia care. He has worked in clinical psychology practice for over twenty five years, with extensive experience supporting nursing homes, multidisciplinary teams, and families caring for people with dementia.

Cathal began his studies in Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast, followed by a nine-month family therapy internship at the Eugene Family Institute in Oregon, USA. He went on to complete a Master’s in Applied Psychology at the University of Ulster and later undertook his professional clinical psychology training with the Psychological Society of Ireland — a three-year, full-time programme that accredits psychologists to practise as Registered Clinical Psychologists. He also completed doctoral training at the National University of Ireland, Galway, on their professional doctorate programme for clinicians.

Over his career, Cathal has led dementia care projects, training staff in over 14 nursing homes and two multidisciplinary teams. He trained with the Association for Dementia Studies at the University of Worcester as an accredited FITS (Focused Intervention Training and Support) trainer. FITS is an evidence-based, research-approved programme shown to significantly reduce inappropriate antipsychotic prescribing in dementia care (see Brooker et al., 2014).

Building on this foundation, Cathal created Dementia Care Systems, an online training programme designed to make these best practices accessible to all nursing home staff. The training equips care assistants, nurses, and managers with the tools to understand behaviour in the context of dementia, identify unmet needs, and develop person-centred well-being plans. In nursing homes that completed this training, 60% achieved reductions in antipsychotic prescribing, alongside clear improvements in resident well-being and staff confidence.  

Cathal’s approach combines evidence-based psychology, innovative training design, and a strong commitment to personhood in dementia care, influenced by Kitwood’s Enriched Dementia Model. Through Dementia Care Systems, he continues to develop practical tools and resources that empower staff to deliver safe, compassionate, and effective dementia care, ensuring residents live with dignity, comfort, and connection.

 The Evidence Behind Our Training

Dementia Care Systems builds on the FITS (Focused Intervention Training and Support) programme, developed by the Association for Dementia Studies at the University of Worcester. FITS is a research-approved, evidence-based programme designed to help care staff reduce antipsychotic use and improve the quality of life for people living with dementia.

The FITS into Practice project showed that when staff were trained and supported using this model:

• Antipsychotic prescribing was reduced by over 30%
• Staff confidence and skills in understanding behaviour greatly improved
• Residents experienced better well-being and quality of life

Reference:
Brooker, D., Latham, I., Evans, S., et al. (2014). FITS into Practice: Translating research into practice in reducing the use of antipsychotic medication for people with dementia living in care homes. Aging & Mental Health, 18(8), 1023–1034.

Dr. Cathal Lynch trained as an accredited FITS trainer with the University of Worcester and implemented the programme across nursing homes in Ireland. In these nursing homes, reductions in antipsychotic prescribing were achieved, demonstrating the effectiveness of FITS in practice.

By adapting FITS into an accessible, online training system, Dementia Care Systems makes these proven methods available to every member of the nursing home team — from care assistants to managers — ensuring sustainable improvements in dementia care.

 About the Training

The Dementia Care Systems programme provides practical, evidence-based strategies to:

• Reduce distress behaviours (BPSD) without relying on antipsychotics
• Meet each resident’s unique needs
• Create a supportive, thriving care environment

What’s Included

• Understanding Dementia – Learn how dementia affects residents and develop their well-being profiles.
• Person-Centred Care – Apply Kitwood’s model to improve quality of life for each resident.
• Practical Behaviour Support – Use functional analysis to identify and address unmet needs.
• Case Studies – Real-world examples to build confidence and skills.
• Resident Well-Being Plans – Apply learning to create a personalised plan for your resident.

Why It Works

• Designed for Busy Staff – Lessons are clear, short, and actionable.
• Immediate Results – Apply what you learn from day one.
• Manager Support Tools – Ensure staff are motivated and engaged.

What Participants Say

“This training has had a big impact on the care we deliver. It’s given me the tools to approach residents differently and build individualised care plans.”

Staff Nurse

“FITS training has helped me understand dementia in a new way and work better as a team to improve care. I now see the world through the residents’ eyes.”

Psychiatric Nurse

“It’s a course that I highly recommend to anyone in healthcare. It’s practical and realistic.”

Health Care Assistant