New training course launched to help improve dementia care

The Alzheimer's Society is launching a new training course 'An Introduction to Dementia Care' on 22 April 2005. The course 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% 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 says:

'We hope 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 improve 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.

The course has been mapped to the TOPSS (Training Organisation for the Personal Social Services) induction standards for care staff and helps to provide evidence for the NVQ level 2 in care.

Graham Stokes, Head of Mental Health, BUPA care homes and Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society will be speaking at the launch event about the importance of effective dementia care training and the positive effect it can have on the lives of people in care.

Graham Stokes said:

'The aim of this programme is to introduce carers to best practice in dementia care, provide them with an understanding of what it is like to live with dementia and encourage them to view dementia care as a career choice. We also hope that this course will go a long way in establishing a consistent baseline for specialist training in dementia care.'

The course has already been piloted through four BUPA Care homes and the Joseph Rowntree home in York.

The Alzheimer's Society hopes that all care providers and trainers will eventually use the course to help improve training for care works working with people with dementia in residential and care homes.

Chrysa Apps for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation said,

'This joint project has enabled us to meet a need in our training provision which we hope will benefit others.'

For press and media enquiries please contact the Alzheimer's Society press office.

Notes for editors

• Photography available on request.
• Studies have shown that up to 75% of people living in nursing and residential care homes have Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. Currently, only 10% of staff have any form of dementia training.
• The Alzheimer's Society is the UK's leading care and research charity for people with dementia and their carers.
• The Alzheimer's Society is the Medical Journalists' Association Medical Charity of the Year. The Alzheimer's Society is the first organisation to win this award.
• Over 750,000 people in the UK have dementia. More than half have Alzheimer's disease.
• Dementia affects one in 20 people over the age of 65 and one in five over the age of 80.
• There are 18,500 people in the UK under the age of 65 with dementia.
• For information and advice on Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia call the Alzheimer's Society national helpline on 0845 300 0336.
• Our website address is http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/.