Free online dementia training for BNSSG health, social care and voluntary sector staff

Bristol Health Partners Dementia Health Integration Team (HIT) is running a programme of five online dementia training workshops –12-1pm on consecutive Wednesdays from 9 November 2022.

The training is online, free of charge and open to all Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) health, social care and voluntary sector staff. It will be provided by Dr Gary Christopher and Professor Richard Cheston from the Dementia HIT.

Please register for each training session via Eventbrite using the links below.  A Zoom link to join each training session will be sent out to participants the day before the training.

Please see the full description for each session on the Eventbrite pages.

If you cannot attend the full programme of five sessions, please attend as many as you can.  The full course of five sessions will be run again in the new year so there will be opportunity to register for any individual sessions you may have missed.

Training sessions

1. Guarding against ageism. 9 November, 12pm – 1pm

There are many myths associated with ageing that need challenging because negative stereotypes of older adults can affect care provision

2. Modifiable risk factors for dementia. 16 November, 12pm – 1pm

Several modifiable risk factors have been identified and shown to reduce the likelihood of developing dementia, so awareness of these is vital for delaying or preventing instances of dementia.

3. Emotions and dementia. 23 November, 12pm – 1pm

Emotional support after receiving a diagnosis of dementia is often overlooked. This session will explore how people respond emotionally to dementia and how we can help people to feel more secure.

4. Fatigue in older adults with dementia. 30 November, 12pm – 1pm

Although fatigue is a prominent symptom of dementia, more needs to be done to raise awareness it as fatigue contributes to functional decline.

5. Cognitive frailty in older adults with long-term a condition. 7 December, 12pm – 1pm

Cognitive frailty is not well understood even though it impacts a person’s ability to lead an independent life. Increased awareness is needed to limit preventable functional decline.

About the trainers

Dr Gary Christopher is a Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Innovative Ageing at Swansea University. He is a Co-Director of Bristol Health Partners Dementia Health Integration Team and a Director of BRACE Alzheimer’s Research.

Professor Richard Cheston is a Professor of Dementia Research at University of West of England (UWE) and previously worked as a clinical psychologist in the NHS for 25 years. His research and clinical interests focus on using psychological interventions to lessen the emotional distress associated with living with dementia.

Dr Marie Thomas is a Reader at Bath Spa University.