Our first Dementia Learning Day was held in May, and it was lovely seeing so many people joining in with the co-production workshops, Dementia Friends Information sessions and the Dementia Bus! We are so grateful to everyone that came and delivered sessions and took people through the dementia bus. And a really big shout out and thank you to our lovely volunteers who gave up their time to be part of the day. Thank you Daksha, Steve, Chris, Julia, Jane and Christine – we really appreciate your passion and help. Thank you to those of the Dementia Advisory Group who couldn’t be there on the day, you were with us in spirit!
Agata did a great job welcoming folks, and there was plenty of friendly conversations and networking opportunities.
Dementia Bus
The Dementia Bus provided attendees with a virtual simulation of what it’s like to live with dementia. People found it a challenging but helpful experience. It gave everyone plenty to think about when caring for someone with dementia. Everyone was really complimentary about Mark who facilitated these sessions, he had a warmth, kindness and understanding that was really important for people who felt distressed or apprehensive. Some of our wonderful Dementia Advisory Group were there to emotionally support people who came off the experience feeling overwhelmed and needed a chat.
‘Thank you for the hugs.’
You can enquire and book this experience with Training2Care
A comment from one of the Dementia Day attendees:
“People were quite taken with the virtual experience, and said they now appreciate a different perspective is needed with the care of their patrons or family members. It was a privilege to have been a part of their experiences, and some were overwhelmed and emotional afterwards.”
Co-Production Workshops
Rachel led some workshops to start the process of co-producing what ‘Good Care Home Questions’ could look like. We discussed co-producing a document that details some things people should be thinking about when they are considering residential care for a loved one.
Also, she led a discussion asking what people need after a dementia diagnosis. What do they need immediately, and what might they need later? We want to send this information to the Alzheimer’s Society and the Memory Assessment Service in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust to help shape the information people are given directly after a diagnosis.
It was so important to hear the perspective of different people and we hope that everyone found it useful. If you would like to be involved in this ongoing work from a personal or professional point of view, contact Rachel: rachel.nightingale@sunnetwork.org.uk.
Dementia Friends Sessions
The wonderful Heather from Alzheimers.org.uk shared a wealth of information and empathy in her Dementia Friends Information sessions. A Whopping 39 people became Dementia Friends!
‘Heather’s session was so good, pitched at the right level and has given me a much better understanding of dementia. With her personal experience and brilliant analogies.’
Here are a few comments from some of the other Dementia Day attendees:
“I wanted to reach out and say thank you for the Dementia Learning Day. I found it useful especially being involved in the Good Care Home Questions session. It was valuable for us as professionals to hear different perspectives and experiences.”
“Everyone’s been helpful and caring.”
“Thank you for putting on such a helpful event. It was really insightful and I learned a lot.”
It was great to share good food and beverages, learn together, and strengthen and build new connections. If you want to get involved in future events that The SUN Network host, please reach out to use via our contact page, or take a look the current opportunities we’d love to have your help with!