20 CTEC Health and Social Care students became Dementia Friends on Friday 7 December, attending a one-hour information session organised by Head of Department Ms Jenny Thompson.
Ms Thompson said: ‘I thought it was a good idea for the students to understand more about what dementia was and how they could support an individual with dementia. I also felt it was important to help combat some of the stereotypes surrounding it.’ The students had been learning about physiological disorders so this session was perfectly timed to complement their coursework.
A volunteer Dementia Friends Champion visited college to deliver the session, teaching our students what it’s like to live with dementia and how to create a dementia friendly community. The key messages conveyed included that people with dementia can still live well and that it’s important to see the person behind the symptoms.
The Dementia Friends Champion suggested that our students could take action to help others become more aware, for example, by taking a selfie to share dementia awareness on social media. Our students pledged to do this and were officially declared Dementia Friends.
As the Dementia Friends website says: ‘Dementia is caused by a number of diseases that affect the brain.
The word ‘dementia’ describes a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. These changes are often small to start with, but for someone with dementia they have become severe enough to affect daily life. A person with dementia may also experience changes in their mood or behaviour.
Whether you attend a face-to-face Information Session or watch our online video, Dementia Friends is about learning more about dementia and the small ways you can help. From telling friends about Dementia Friends to visiting someone you know living with dementia, every action counts.’
If you’d like to know more, please visit the Dementia Friends website.
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