Real Life with Dementia training wins national award

A dementia training course for carers in South Gloucestershire, known as Real Life with Dementia, has won the National Dementia Care Award 2017 for Best Dementia Training Initiative.

The course leaders are Beth Tovey, Centre Manager of Cambrian Green Day Services and Dr Maria-Paloma Sequeiros, Old Age Psychiatrist from Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust. They received the Award on 9 November 2017 at a special Gala Night at Doncaster Racecourse.

Real Life with Dementia offers informal carers of people with dementia comprehensive training over 12 months. It covers information about the disease as well as techniques to help manage the effects of dementia, to help improve the quality of life for the person with dementia and those who care for them.

Beth Tovey commented:

“I am delighted and privileged to receive this award. Throughout my career working in social care for the council I have witnessed how all too often carers struggle with knowing how to approach and respond to the challenges they experience day to day in their homes when supporting someone living with dementia.

“This can develop into crisis at home which can lead to demands on already stretched services in both health and social care. As professionals, we have to acknowledge the real life challenges at home as well as supporting carers to develop their coping abilities through training, the practical skills required at home.”

Find out more about the National Dementia Care Awards.