Bupa annouce plans to increase dementia specialists

Bupa Care Services has announced plans to extend its “Dementia Ambassadors” programme in Scotland, ensuring at least three will be located in each of its care homes across the country.

Since adopting the programme in June, Bupa has already helped more than 100 staff members to sign up to the scheme and it has announced plans to bring that number of 150.

Tom Bohlke, Bupa Dementia Lead in Scotland, said that with approximately 80% of Bupa care home residents estimated to be living with some form of dementia, it was important to recognise that skilled and competent carers are key to improving the quality of life of the individual and their families.

Tom said: “It’s very exciting that Bupa has broken new frontiers in the care sector with this commitment to bring together the largest number of Dementia Ambassadors in Scotland.

“This move will provide at least three Dementia Ambassadors for each of the Bupa care homes across Scotland.

“The role will provide support to the management and staff teams in our care homes, while establishing a focus in promoting good dementia care.  

“It also ties in with Bupa’s ‘Person First – Dementia Second’ strategy, which aims to ensure that our care for people living with dementia is shaped by skilled and knowledgeable carers and nurses delivering compassionate person-centred care.”

Tom added that Bupa identified that best progress and added-value could be made by merging its existing in-house training skills with those of the Promoting Excellence framework to meet its commitment towards the Scottish Dementia Strategy and the Standards of Care for Dementia in Scotland.