We have just completed the Dementia Champion training at Springhill Care home, looking at the Bio-Psycho-Social model; Dementia, Depression and Delirium - the differences; good communication; the importance of families and also meaningful activity for our residents amongst other topics.
The term Springhill Dementia Champions is well deserved as they have had a lot of obstacles to overcome in getting their badges due to unplanned events; however five carers: Janet Cornthwaite, Justyna Majcher, Denise Walkden, Julie Stevenson and Donna Greenhalgh have managed to achieve this accolade.
The Dementia Champions had to present a case study to Directors; managers and trainers with the home.
These presentations should not be under-estimated; a huge amount of planning, writing and practise goes into them. Permission to work with the resident and family is sought and then the Dementia Champion has to identify and explain how the Life story of the resident; the families; the process of either dementia care, or in one case mental illness; and the social care environment come together to make up the resident for whom they care.
The presentations went remarkably well, the case studies were extremely moving and highlighted the amount of compassion and empathy with which Donna, Julie, Denise, Janet and Justyna work.
Donna Briggs, managing director, spoke of the ‘moving and excellent care’ which the presentations captured.
Bernadette Bennett, deputy manager, agreed that the ‘excellence of good dementia care in practice at Springhill’ was shown and said that the presentations ‘really allow you to see the whole person’.
Curtis Bennett, general manager, said that he was proud of all of his staff.
I was also very proud as I knew to what extent the new Dementia Champions had had to work to achieve this standard. So I was very pleased to see Donna Briggs present the certificates and badges to the Dementia Champions to recognise this excellent work.
I have heard that they are wearing them with pride.
Jakki Whitehead
Admiral Nurse
