Early-Stage Dementia Awareness Training for Arts Organisations at Park Theatre, Finsbury Park

Summary
This early-stage dementia awareness session will be delivered for Arts 4 Dementia (A4D) by a Dementia Pathfinders trainer Aubrey Maasdorp, with arts workshop guidance from Imelda Dooley Hunter, A4D.

Course Duration

Full day training workshop.

Course Title

Arts 4 Dementia: Early-Stage Dementia Awareness Training for Arts Facilitators

Suitable for

Arts facilitators, workshop leaders, animateurs, volunteers and postgraduate arts students. Organisational staff in areas focused on learning, access, inclusion, development, community outreach, audience development, or visitor programmes.

Aim of the Day

To give arts facilitators greater understanding, increased skills and confidence in communicating and working creatively with people experiencing the early stages of dementia and their carers. To help organisations work towards reaching new audiences, making their institutions more inclusive, and increasing their impact in the community.

Programme (approximate timings)

10.00 Registration

10.30 Welcome - A4D on "Identity"

10.45 Dementia Pathfinders discuss ageing, memory loss, dementia types, person-centred care, and show Keith Oliver film - the challenges of young onset Alzheimer's

1.15 Lunch

2.00 Components of Communication, skills, challenges, analysis, followed by understanding behaviours and the changing needs of participants

3.15 Tea break

3.30 A4D workshops, challenging approach to lift fog of dementia and release creative impulse

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the session participants will be able to:

• Demonstrate their understanding of the various types of dementia and how these impact on people's abilities and feelings in the early stages
• Explain the key communication approaches
• Describe with confidence the value of arts based approaches when working with people with early stage dementia
• Explain the impact of Arts 4 Dementia's re-energising approach for participants
• Engage the interest of participants with early-stage dementia and encourage them to develop new creative skills

Testimonials from Previous Trainings

It was an excellent day: very throught-provoking with lots of ideas to take forward.

I gained a different outlook on attitude towards engaging with those with dementia.

I feel very motivated and re-energised about my work.

And from our training at the Garden Museum in Autumn 2017:

Having been to many workshops (so feel that I am qualified to say) I thought it was fantastic, it was inspirational and uplifting (which was a surprise). The format of the day worked really well and Aubrey was a humorous, engaging and an extremely knowledgeable speaker and [the A4D workshop] insights were invaluable too. It was fantastic to meet so many like minded people from such varied artistic practices and backgrounds. It was a thoroughly enlightening day.

Refreshments

Tea and coffee will be available on arrival and in morning and afternoon breaks.