People with dementia leading the way in new training video

'The brain won't work - it seems to go into a kind of cloud and I forget simple things, but I can do crosswords, and the more you keep the brain agitated, the better.'
Person with dementia, in the video.

The pack is aimed at anyone working in a residential or nursing home providing care and support for people with dementia.

'To provide care that makes a difference, we need to think about a person with dementia's past, their needs today and support them in facing the future. When we decided to make a new video training package, we felt it was vital to include the input of people with dementia,'

said Daren Felgate, training and development manager for the Alzheimer's Society.

The video features people with dementia and their relatives talking about their experiences, plus care staff are interviewed about how they provide quality dementia care.

The training pack comprises a video and manual, divided into eight sections to deliver easily digestible training sessions. The manual includes notes for trainers and facilitators on how to run the course.

The new training package will be particularly useful for induction training, or anyone wishing to reflect on their practice, and upon completion of the training, participants can undertake a basic assessment. The topics covered include:

• The experience of people with dementia
• What is dementia?
• Communication and people with dementia?„
• Values and attitudes?„
• Team work and putting quality dementia care into practice
• Activities of everyday life
• Supporting personal care, food and drink
• Maintaining and building relationships
• Understanding behaviour that challenges us

For picture stills from the video, or a free review copy please contact the Alzheimer's Society press office.

The pack will normally cost £175.00, but until 31 December 2002, there is a special introductory price of only £139.00. To get an order form, please contact the Quality Care Team.

Notes for editors

• The Alzheimer's Society is the UK's leading care and research charity for people with dementia and their carers.
• Over 700,000 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.
• For information and advice on Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia call the Alzheimer's Society national helpline on 0845 300 0336.