Public invited to care group's free dementia classes

Anyone wishing to understand what dementia is, how it is diagnosed and the effects it can have on friends and family, are being invited to two free ‘dementia awareness’ classes in Wootton Bassett and Salisbury.

Staff at the Caring Homes Group are hosting classes at Miranda House in Royal Wootton Bassett on 15 February and at Laverstock Care Centre in Salisbury on 16 February to ‘give participants an in-depth understanding about, and empathy for, the psychological needs of a person with dementia’.

The classes in Wiltshire are the latest in a series run across the country by Caring Homes to raise the public's awareness of the condition.

According to Alzheimers Society, there are more than 200 different forms of dementia; the four most common are Alzheimer’s Disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy Bodies, Frontotemporal dementia. One in 14 people aged 65 and over have dementia.

Members of the public who attend a class can benefit from the care provider’s in-house dementia training programme, ‘Living in My World’, which received a Princess Royal Training Award.

With handy tips on how to improve communication and understand the day-to-day frustrations that affect a person living with dementia, the classes at each venue will be geared towards family members and loved ones of those living with dementia while a separate session is organised for businesses and other organisations.

Caring Homes' dementia training lead Michele Saunders said: “These events will enable participants to learn about dementia and help them to challenge the way people think, act and talk about the condition.

"We want to actively promote a dementia-friendly community through sharing our knowledge and expertise.

Ms Saunders said the classes: “can be useful to all sorts of businesses and organisations, and help people understand what life is like for those living with the condition.”

To attend a class call 0808 223 5400 or email enquiries@caringhomes.org.