Prime Minister's Challenge on Dementia
The Housing Learning and Improvement Network has been recognised in the PM's report on progress as a valuable online resource for information on innovations in housing and dementia. Launched today at No10. The PM spoke about recruiting 1million volunteer 'dementia friends' as part of the progress to support those living with dementia. For more details on this, visit: www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/browse/HousingandDementia/Commissioning/?parent=5048&child=8647
I hope a lot of good comes out of it but I am deeply cynical and even worried about the governments "Dementia Friends" idea. Firstly I can't see where they are going to find 1,000,000 people. I don't want people who have been on a training course about dementia for a day or two being given the task of caring for my mum or even spending time alone with her.
With some dementia patients being prone to unexpected bouts of violence. I have learned how to duck and leggit when I need to.
My mum is extremely vulnerable as are most people with dementia. I do not want ill trained people, who may not be honest or trustworthy being encouraged to spend time with dementia patients.
Even if it is just people with a good heart who want to talk to the people who deal with dementia patients, I can't take seriously anyone who hasn't gone through it. A good hearted person who has been on a training course can't tell me diddly squat about what mum's going through.
I value the opinions of people on this site because we are all walking the walk. If someone tried to educate me on dementia and they'd been on a training course, well it's another government policy that so far as I can see it anyway, is doomed.
It's the same with NHS Direct, they took away most of the medical staff and replaced them with admin people, then wonder why it doesn't work.
I'll have a look at the other links later but that's me off my soapbox
Hi Rina, I understand your reservations and share some of them (a little knowldge is a dangerous thing, and all that), but on balance I think the initiative is a good one. It is not intended to increase exposure of vulnerable people with dementia to ill-trained volunteers so much as recognising that many people already have contact with people who have dementia in everyday life, and a bit more understanding and sensitivity from them would be beneficial for those experiencing the condition. It is about raising awareness and understanding across the general public. People with dementia are not only, or even always, "dementia patients".