Posted by Devon Partnership Trust in News on 13th May, 2024
Every year, the Alzheimer's Society raises awareness of dementia to encourage people across the UK to 'act on Dementia'. This year, Dementia Action Week (13-19 May) focuses on bringing the UK together to improve dementia diagnosis rates.
Dementia affects millions of individuals and their families worldwide. It is a progressive condition that impacts memory, thinking, behaviour, and the ability to perform everyday tasks. The activities that we do every day, such as talking with a friend, going out for a coffee, cooking a meal, choosing what to wear, walking the dog, cutting the grass, or planning a trip, all identify us, give us purpose and structure, and support our individuality. The functional abilities needed to participate in these activities are often taken for granted until they are impaired by dementia. Those affected by dementia can find even the simplest tasks challenging.
In March, staff from the Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service, a partnership between the Alzheimer’s Society and our organisation, had the opportunity to spend time with members of the England men's football team. The team showcased their ‘Empathy Suit’, a simulation-based training workshop designed for care home staff in Bristol to experience some of the physical challenges faced by people living with dementia. The film below captures Kyle Walker, Ivan Toney and Jarrad Branthwaite engaging in everyday activities and reflecting on their experience of wearing the suit.
Our Care Home Liaison team has delivered this training to 20 care homes, reaching over 150 staff in the past year, and will continue to deliver it locally. There are also plans to undertake further research into its impact. The wider service has adopted this training program and is delivering it to community and carer groups.
To find out more about the suit and the training, please contact the Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service on dpn-tr.enquiriesbristoldementia@nhs.net or read our previous article to hear from the team.