Monday 18th May – Friday 24th May, marks Dementia Action Week. This year, Brunelcare, a leading providing of dementia care and support across the South West, is getting more involved than ever. Following the success of last year’s programme of events, the charity is once again hosting a series of activities, presentations and Q&A sessions throughout the week, offering insight into how Brunelcare supports people living with dementia and their families across the charity’s six care homes.
Dementia Action Week is a national awareness campaign led by the Alzheimer’s Society. Each year, the campaign brings together individuals and organisations across the UK to encourage people to take action on dementia.
Throughout the week, Brunelcare colleagues will lead a range of free sessions for family, friends and the wider community to attend.
Activities include singing sessions cream tea afternoons, Namaste sessions, a dementia walk, pebble painting, introduction to Dementia sessions, gardening activities, a Dementia Coffee Morning and the opportunity to experience the Empathy Suit, designed to help people better understand what it can feel like to live with conditions such as dementia. Sessions will take place across Brunelcare’s six care homes and reablement centre.
Brunelcare’s Dementia Lead, Stuart Wright said: “After the success of last year, we are delighted to once again be opening our doors and welcoming people into our homes during Dementia Action Week. Raising awareness and understanding of dementia is incredibly important, as it is still a condition that is often misunderstood. While many people associate dementia purely with memory loss, it can also affect a person’s communication, behaviour, emotions, confidence and ability to carry out everyday tasks.
“By helping people better understand the realities of living with dementia, we can create communities and environments that are more empathetic, supportive and inclusive. It is also an opportunity to shine a light on the compassion, skill and dedication shown by care teams every single day in supporting people to live fulfilling lives with dignity and independence.
“We are really looking forward to this year’s sessions and activities, and we hope to welcome lots of new faces alongside families and friends who joined us last year.”
Brunelcare launched FITS into Practice (Focused Intervention Training and Support forum) four years ago, a training programme designed to equip care home staff with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver person-centred care to people living with dementia, particularly those experiencing distress or behaviours that may negatively impact their wellbeing.
The charity’s FITS leaders have also delivered presentations and shared new initiatives at the annual Dementia Congress, helping to showcase Brunelcare’s ongoing commitment to improving dementia care and support.
A key outcome of the programme has been the development of Dementia Coaches within Brunelcare’s care homes. These specially trained staff members act as champions for high-quality dementia care, supporting colleagues, modelling best practice and embedding person-centred approaches into everyday care routines. Dementia Coaches also work to reduce the use of antipsychotic medications by promoting alternative approaches to supporting people experiencing distress.
By investing in Dementia Coaches, implementing FITS into Practice and delivering activities during Dementia Action Week, Brunelcare continues to create supportive and compassionate environments for the people it cares for, while also increasing knowledge, confidence and understanding among colleagues, families and local communities.
