Princess Alice Hospice Education & Research department is working with Signature Senior Lifestyle to embark on a five-month programme to train ‘End of Life Care Dementia Champions’ across its network of 13 luxury care homes.
Signature Senior Lifestyle was looking for a way to increase its expertise in dementia care – they approached the Hospice for help in bringing together and educating the champions to increase their knowledge, skills, and confidence which will then allow them to be a valuable resource to support all care home staff and residents with dementia. A spokesperson for Signature said: “This programme is a wonderful step in ensuring that our residents are getting all the very best care that can be provided, as well as giving family members, friends, and loved ones all the support they could need.”
Using a mix of teaching and interactive learning carried out via Zoom, the Dementia Champions have been encouraged to bring examples from practice which are then used as a basis for discussion and learning.
The role of the champion is to implement organisational change and support mechanisms to facilitate best practice in end of life care for residents with dementia.
Signature went on to say,
We are extremely pleased with the progress with End of Life Care Dementia Champions. As ever, peace of mind, security and reassurance for our residents and their loved ones is of the utmost importance and never has it been more apparent than during the difficulties of the last year.
“It has naturally been a very difficult period for everyone but we are greatly looking forward to implementing this programme, seeing its effects and standing proud behind what can be accomplished in care.’’
This has been echoed by Anne Reed, Community Outreach Practitioner from Princess Alice Hospice who has been impressed with the commitment that staff have made. She said: “Seeing the commitment and enthusiasm demonstrated by the staff caring for residents with dementia to this programme is a real testament to Signature Senior Lifestyle, especially considering the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. This can only serve to enhance the care given to residents with dementia in these environments.’’
Princess Alice Education & Research department can offer the programme to other care home groups or tailor-make a programme to meet different training requirements.
For further information, please contact education@pah.org.uk or marketingandcommunications@
Princess Alice Hospice has, for more than 30 years, provided free, high-quality, specialist end of life care to tens of thousands of people across a large part of Surrey, south west London and Middlesex. £10.1 million is needed each year to provide these vital and much-needed services. With limited NHS funding, 76% must be generated by fundraising, retail operations, donations and legacies.
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