Children today could become first ‘dementia friendly generation’ with lessons on dementia

A new resource pack to help teach school children about dementia has been launched at the National Children and Adult Services (NCAS) conference.

The launch marks the culmination of a project which has seen 22 primary and secondary schools introduce the theme of dementia into their curriculums and has involved over 2,000 children.

The aim of the Intergenerational Schools project has been to increase children’s knowledge of dementia, remove the stigma of dementia and give children the opportunity to interact with people with dementia.

Working early on with young people from primary and secondary schools is seen as one of the best ways to create a 'dementia friendly generation'.

Schools have held science lessons looking at what happens in the brain of someone with dementia, they have also held debates on the issue and an art class designed a mural to depict what someone’s journey with the condition is like.

Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Society, which has been supporting the project, said: “With a million people developing dementia in the next ten years it is likely children will experience the condition in their lifetime, whether it is a grandparent, a parent, or even themselves. Educating children and young people about dementia will help them understand more about how it affects someone and remove stigma before it even develops. This project has been a real success and we hope other schools will take part.”

Angela Rippon, Alzheimer’s Society ambassador, who chairs the project, added: “The imagination and passion shown by the children has been truly inspirational. They and their teachers have put so much enthusiasm into their work.

“Many people with dementia have told me how friends have treated them differently following their diagnosis. This project is vital in order to break down the fear attached to the illness by enabling young people to understand the condition. They will carry that knowledge into maturity - helping us create a dementia friendly generation.”

The scheme, which is supported by Alzheimer’s Society, is part of the dementia friendly communities programme designed to improve the lives of people with dementia through the changes everyone in the community makes - from bus drivers, bin men and shop owners to restaurants and big corporate companies.

As well as incorporating dementia as a theme into lessons, a number of schools put on talks from carers and people with dementia, and arranged visits to Alzheimer’s Society services and care homes.

A Year 12 pupil, from Northfleet School for Girls in Kent, commented: “Before I thought it was a bit scary and I wasn’t really sure at all, but after we spoke to him (a person with dementia) I realised he’s just like any normal person and he can live the same way that we can, just with a bit of help.”

The Alzheimer’s Society wants all schools to download the pack and incorporate it into their lessons.

Recommendations from the Intergenerational Schools project include:

• Appointing a lead teacher who has time allocated to project planning and delivery.

• Time allocated to the project should be ring fenced within the curriculum to avoid competition from other subjects and events.

• Schools should aim to form links with local dementia organisations, care homes and schools to help with various aspects of their projects and pupils should be given the opportunity to meet people with dementia and carers.

The project, supported by Alzheimer’s Society, was based on work undertaken by Dr Karim Saad, the regional clinical lead for dementia in the West Midlands, in collaboration with the Association for Dementia Studies at the University of Worcester and the NHS West Midlands Dementia Pathway team. It was funded by the Department of Health.

The resources have been developed by the Health and Social Care Partnership.

For more information and to download the resource pack, please visit www.hscpartnership.org.uk/policy-and-consultancy/our-current-projects/intergenerational-and-schools-project/