DSDC’s Dementia and Ageing Education Workshop for Care Partners, Families and Volunteers is a funded project* to support people affected by a dementia throughout Scotland. The workshops provide knowledge, skills and solutions that may be helpful when supporting someone older people and individuals living with a dementia. The workshops also provide the opportunity to meet others in a similar situation, offering a peer support opportunity helping to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.
People can often feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to turn when supporting a loved one living with a dementia and volunteers may find themselves in situations where they are unsure as to what is the right approach.
The workshops can help gain that greater understanding of both dementia and ageing and how it can impact on the person and how the physical and social environment can also impact on their wellbeing.
Understanding the specifics of dementia and ageing can help provide and empower a person-led approach and promoting wellbeing, and a positive impact on quality of life for both the person and those in their caring roles.
The workshop content covers:
• Understanding dementia/ageing and the different types/symptoms
• The impact on the person due to the changes within the brain
• The importance of considering the perspective of the person and seeing them at the heart of the condition
• Understanding why there may be difficulties with communication
• Recognising the importance of how the environment, both physical and social can impact on how the person may present.
• Understanding dementia and supporting unmet need.
• Strategies and interventions.
• Optional tour of the technology suite which provides practical ideas to support different environments (14:15 – 15:15)
* *This is an in-person workshop held at the University of Stirling**
*DSDC would like to thank Gregorie Marshall for his donation, as without his support this workshop would not be possible.
