The Alzheimer’s Society has launched the first nationally accredited training course aimed at improving the quality of care given to people with dementia.
The new training course is called ‘An Introduction to Dementia Care’ and is aimed at improving the standard of care offered to the thousands of people across the country living with dementia. It is the first course in dementia care to be nationally accredited and it has been produced in collaboration with BUPA Care Homes, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the University of Sunderland.
The programme aims to encourage care staff to learn more about dementia through the use of video, group discussion and work with people with dementia.
Studies have shown that up to 75 per cent of people living in nursing and residential care homes have Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. The Alzheimer’s Society hopes that this course will help care staff to have a better understanding of dementia and encourage staff to view dementia care as a career choice.
Daren Felgate, the Alzheimer’s Society’s training and development manger hopes that this course will become the key introductory course for care workers working with people with dementia.
"Working with people with dementia is often seen as being difficult and challenging. However, with the right support many care staff would say it is the most rewarding work they have ever done. The Society is working towards the goal of quality care for everyone with dementia, and we hope that this course will go some way to improving the care people receive".
The collaboration between the Alzheimer’s Society, BUPA Care Homes, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the University of Sunderland means that staff now have the opportunity to gain university accreditation as part of their training.