Greenbank Care Home staff become dementia care specialists

AN IRVINE care home will be among the first in the country to have specially trained Dementia Champions to help residents.

Greenbank Care Home managers Lily Johnson and Jan McPhee, have just completed the pioneering Alzheimer’s Society programme.

Jan said: “I am delighted Bupa gave me the opportunity to be one of the first Dementia Champions in the country.

“The Alzheimer’s Society programme has given me more advanced skills and techniques on how to communicate with our residents who are living with dementia, and also how to help my colleagues develop further.

“My role is all about understanding the world from the viewpoint of someone living with dementia and providing care and services that are really tailored to their individual needs, while also ensuring that my colleagues understand the importance of every interaction they have with residents.”

A pilot scheme undertaken last year paved the way for the Dementia Champions. It showed that if the right people are trained to be Dementia Champions and are supported by their managers, there are significant improvements in the lives and daily experiences of people with dementia.

Ruth Sutherland, Acting Chief Executive, Alzheimer’s Society, said: “It is not enough simply to tick a box and say someone has been trained.

“The drive to improve care needs to be ongoing and the whole culture of the workplace needs to change and that’s what we are seeking to achieve with this programme.”