Ceredigion County Council Care Home First to Offer Dementia Friend Champions

A local authority care home is the first in Ceredigion to offer Dementia Friend Champions to support its residents and their families.

The Dementia Friends Champion Training courses are run by the Alzheimer’s Society across England and Wales to induct individuals as Dementia Friends Champions, to help people understand what it’s like to live with dementia, through one hour interactive information sessions.

Leonora King, Lizzie Fishburn and Nikki Binetti work in Bryntirion Resource Centre near Tregaron, and took part in the Dementia Friend Champions Training in Carmarthen. All three are now Dementia Friend Champions, who aim to improve understanding of dementia and the little things everyone can do to help those living with dementia.

Chella Borde from the Alzheimer’s Society said: “I was very impressed with the strong communication skills and enthusiasm shown by the group. I am delighted that they have decided to become Dementia Friend Champions and raise awareness in their communities. Anyone of any age can become a Dementia Friend and we hope that with such strong Dementia Friends Champions delivering Dementia Friend Information Sessions that more and more people will get involved.”

Julie Hutchings, Registered Manager at Bryntirion Resource Centre said: “All our staff have now become Dementia Friends, and now that we have our three ‘Dementia Friend Champions’ we are able to deliver the information sessions to new members of staff in the centre. I would like to congratulate the team at Bryntirion, their motivation is testament to the success they have achieved.”

The Information Sessions will help Ceredigion County Council develop all its residential care home staff as Dementia Friend Champions, and extend the service offered by Dementia Friend Champions across all its homes. This is part of the Council’s objectives as highlighted within the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales Report – A Place to call Home.

Councillor Catherine Hughes, Cabinet Member for Care, Assurance and Housing, said: “The Dementia Friend Champions achievement in Bryntirion is the first across Ceredigion’s Local Authority Residential Care Homes, and this achievement is a great step in preparing staff and the local community as services are transferred from Bryntirion to Cylch Caron Integrated Resource Centre.”

Ceredigion County Council is in the process of rolling out Dementia Friends Information Sessions across all its residential care homes, in order to meet its target for 100% staff becoming Dementia Friend Champions across its Direct Services by the end of March 2016.

For more information about Dementia Friends please go to www.dementiafriends.org.uk