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Understanding Dementia
from RG10 May/Jun 2022
News from local dementia charity
In 2020, the Covid pandemic forced everyone to make adjustments, including suspending many activities. Wishing to provide the support that unpaid carers needed so badly, Twyford-based charity Understanding Dementia launched a free online training programme in autumn 2020.
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Last year, it began delivering paid-for courses to dementia professionals. With fundraising still a challenge, the charity held two online quizzes which enabled them to continue to provide training free of charge to family carers this year.
Understanding Dementia was delighted to be nominated Charity of the Year 2021 by Sonning Golf Club Lady Captain, Elspeth Cooper – pictured on the left, next to charity founder Shirley Pearce, at the cheque presentation in early March.
Photo: Maidenhead Advertiser
If your organisation would like to make them your charity of the year, please get in touch using the contact details below.
Courses for professionals and family carers
Understanding Dementia has now completed 11 training courses for family carers and five for health and care professionals. The charity has received very positive feedback from both.
They have now joined with Age UK Berkshire and the Link Visiting Scheme in a consortium of local charities providing dementia services commissioned by Wokingham Borough Council.
The funding received will equip them to extend their free training for family carers across the borough, both face-to-face and online.
They are also launching a Train the Trainer programme to build their own team of trainers and increase their reach.
Family carers from outside the borough can still contact Understanding Dementia directly to join their online courses free of charge.
Anyone considering joining a future course is invited to contact the charity to register their interest, and to follow their Facebook page for the latest information.
The Understanding Dementia website has been revamped – do take a look! It now includes a number of testimonials from family and professional carer trainees. There's also a raft of helpful information, such as how memory works and the effects of dementia on wellbeing.
www.understandingdementia.co.uk
Dementia Action Week – 16 to 22 May 2022
Dementia Action Week is an annual awareness campaign spearheaded by the Alzheimer’s Society.www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-involved/dementia-action-week
