Programmes focusing on Education and Training
Dementia Skills Elevator Programme: Dublin City University
Changing Minds Programme: Irish Hospice Foundation
Dementia Services Information and Development Centre (DSIDC): Trinity College Dublin
Education and training for professional healthcare personnel, family carers and the general public is an integral part of Atlantic’s investment in dementia. An evaluation initially carried out by researchers in Dublin City University (DCU) identified seven key areas for priority investment and support. This work informed informed the development of the Dementia Skills Elevator Programme at the university.
The Elevator project works in collaboration with The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and the Health Service Executive to increase awareness around person-centred care and to develop training and education programmes for a wide variety of groups working with and coming in contact with people with dementia. Programmes have been developed for carers themselves – at home and in care settings, for the general public, for the retail and financial sectors, for health and social care workers and for GPs.
The Irish Hospice Foundation’s Changing Minds Programme addresses deficits in knowledge and skills for healthcare professionals regarding communicating with people with dementia about their end-of-life options and care. From its outset, the focus of the Changing Minds Programme has been on personhood, citizenship and the social model of care.
The Dementia Services Information and Development Centre at Trinity College Dublin was initially established in 1998. With Atlantic funding it has continued its focus on three core activities: education and training for care staff; the provision of information and consultancy services; and research to inform best practice in responding to the needs of people with dementia.
Education and Training in Action
Seeing Things Differently
Tom, a shop assistant found the training videos for the retail training very good; they really highlighted what to look out for when working in a retail shop, or even when out doing your own shopping when you may come across someone who may be vulnerable. Evaluating the video Tom said, “as a shop assistant it was good to watch the video clips on how they dealt with each situation. It opened my eyes to more than just forgetting what they were doing. The shop layout, lighting, floors never occurred to me. It highlights the everyday difficulties that sometimes we are inclined to forget.”
Kate Irving, Dementia Elevator Training programme, DCU
The Five Pillars
