University signs innovative partnership with Alzheimer’s Society in Wales

At USW’s ‘Understanding Dementia 2015: A Welsh Perspective’ conference, Nicky Genders, the University’s Head of Care Sciences, announced a Memorandum of Understanding with the Alzheimer’s Society in Wales.

The partnership will see the two bodies work closely together to ‘collaborate in teaching, learning, research and knowledge transfer which are mutually beneficial to both parties’.

“Dementia is one of the biggest public health challenges facing our generation, with estimates that almost 50,000 in Wales will have the condition by 2021,” said Mrs Genders.

“This partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society will allow us to build processes that will benefit both organisations.

“We will also be teaching all our undergraduates to become Dementia Friends, an Alzheimer’s Society initiative, supported by Welsh Government, which aims to make everyday life better for people with dementia.

“By the end of September we will have around 700 Dementia Friends amongst our staff and students at USW.

“We have many other plans about how we can use this partnership to bring real benefits to people who are battling with the day-to-day realities of the condition.” 

Sue Phelps, Director of Alzheimer’s Society in Wales, said: “This partnership provides us with a great opportunity to raise awareness, share learnings and equip the next generation with the skills and knowledge to improve the lives of people living with dementia across Wales.

“Dementia Friends is a fantastic initiative which is growing rapidly in Wales and will spread further with the support of those working and studying at the University coming on board.

“In order to care and support people living with dementia and improve their experiences we need to work in collaboration to be a truly dementia friendly nation.”

_{Pictured: Nicky Genders, University’s Head of Care Sciences, and Sue Phelps, Director of Alzheimer’s Society in Wales.}