“Never believe that just a few caring people can’t change the world, for indeed, that’s all who ever have” - Margaret Mead

Dementia is becoming increasingly prevalent and with it, the need for leaders to rise up and become advocates for the sufferers who have no voice. 

There are around 800,000 people with dementia in the UK. The disease costs the economy £23 billion a year and by 2040, the number of people affected is expected to double - and the costs are likely to treble.

Whilst dementia is very common, it is poorly understood. People often don’t ask for help because there’s still a strong social stigma attached to the diagnosis. It is commonly thought – wrongly so, that the symptoms are a normal part of the ageing process and nothing can be done about it.

To get across the message that people with dementia can be helped, we’re raising awareness and working with lots of different organisations to help them increase dementia awareness amongst their staff. 

To become an advocate for dementia sufferers, you do not necessarily need to be a ‘manager’ 

If you work within the health or social care sector, there are many ways that you can help – and you do not need to hold a traditional managerial position to inspire change and make an impact. Dementia sufferer’s need advocates – individuals who understand enough about the condition to inspire others to learn the skills required to effectively care for and speak up for those who suffer. 

In order to become a leader and advocate for dementia sufferers within your work, we suggest that you start by doing our Dementia Awareness course for just £9 www.careshield.co.uk/Shop/mandatory/dementia-awareness. This will give you the knowledge, insight and skills that enable you to make a strong case for further dementia care training in your job. 

As part of the government dementia care agenda, you can also help by becoming a Dementia Friend:dementiafriends

Managers also have a responsibility to become strong advocates for dementia sufferers…

If you are a manager in the health or social care sector you have a responsibility to implement training.Our Dementia Awareness courses have been developed by subject matter experts in order to exceed the standards set by the Care Quality Commission. Our learning management system helps you measure the effectiveness of your training, reduces the administration associated with other forms of training and provides course certificates for learners to add to personal portfolios. We are proud that our courses have been proven to help leaners move quickly and easily from compliance to competence, and ultimately to excellence.

Besides that, how confident are you that you will pass the CQC inspection for dementia care, if they were to visit your organisation tomorrow?

Here are some of the key service indicators that the CQC will be assessing you on…

• How your residents with dementia are supported to maintain their physical and mental wellbeing.
• The extent to which your care services can reduce a resident’s admission to hospital and avoid unnecessary lengthy stays.
• How your care services work together when people need to move between services.

If you would like to up-skill in the area of dementia care and ensure that you pass the CQC inspection, please click here to view our essential dementia care courses Or, if you have any questions or would like more information, please email one of our consultants here who would be delighted to help you.