As some people may be aware, the Valerie Manor team took part in a pilot study/course last year involving creative therapies to assist in high care delivery to people with dementia. I am now in the process of organising a training programme for all staff to attend to improve their knowledge and skills on caring for people with this condition. I’m sure many of you have been listening to the news over the past week about the statistics and research needs for dementia. I think it is essential for all our staff at Valerie Manor to have dementia training to enable us to meet the needs of all the residents that we care for.

Alayna and Lucy have this week attended a whole day course in dementia care with David Sheard and have come back so enthusiastic and excited about what they have learned and what they can share with their colleagues that the other staff have now asked when they can be booked onto the same course. They were also re-assured that Valerie Manor is already doing a lot of the things that were recommended. One of the biggest things they took away from the course was to make sure there was not a ‘them and us’ environment and encourage staff to eat and drink with the residents for example. They were very proud to be able to tell David that we already did that and are already working towards more joined up daily living with the residents and staff.

The course was facilitated by the Care Training Consortium and David Sheard is the Director for Dementia Care Matters;

http://www.dementiacarematters.com/team.htm