UWS hosting series of public events on future of dementia care

The Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice, a joint partnership between University of the West of Scotland (UWS) and Alzheimer Scotland, is hosting a number of public dementia-related events at the University’s Hamilton Campus on today and tomorrow.

These community engagement events, which are supported by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, will give members of the public an insight into how staff and students at UWS are shaping the future of dementia care.

Today from 12.30pm to 4pm, a series of mini lectures and information sessions will be held where visitors will get the opportunity to hear the experiences of people who received a diagnosis of dementia whilst still in employment. Family carer and employer perspectives will also be given, plus an update on the Alzheimer’s Society funded research project at UWS on dementia in the workplace.  

This will be followed by an inaugural lecture from UWS Visiting Professor Iva Holmerova, Charles University in Prague. The lecture, which will run from 4.30pm to 5.30pm, will see those in attendance receiving a thought provoking address from Professor Holmerova who is the Director and a consultant geriatrician at the Centre of Gerontology, Prague as well as a board member of Alzheimer Europe. She is also the president of the Czech Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics and the Chairperson of the Czech Alzheimer Society.

On Friday members of the public are invited to undertake a tour of the University’s dementia related teaching and learning environment. This event, which will run from 9.30am to 12.00 noon, will include a visit to the University’s dementia friendly hospital ward, reminiscence room, and a chance to talk to staff and students. The event will also see the official launch of the University’s teaching and knowledge exchange dementia friendly environment by Karen Wilson, Dean of the University’s School of Health, Nursing and midwifery.

Dr Karen Watchman (pictured), Depute Director of the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice, which is based at Hamilton Campus, said: “More people are being diagnosed with dementia whilst in employment and more events such as this are needed to increase awareness among employers of how staff can be better supported. Community engagement is an important part of our work here at UWS and we have been delighted with the public response to these events.”

For more visit: http://www.uws.ac.uk/