Specialist health care provider, Exemplar Health Care has announced its pledge to support the improvement of dementia care as well as raise awareness, understanding and education around dementia.
The news comes as World Alzheimer’s Month comes to an end following 30 days of international campaigning to raise awareness and reduce the stigma associated with dementia.
As part of its commitment, Exemplar kickstarted activity in September by hosting Dementia Friend Sessions across three locations; Longley Park View in Sheffield, Maypole Grove in Birmingham and their head office, Ferham House in Rotherham.
The sessions educate people on how dementia can affect people in different ways, about the different variations of dementia, and it encourages people to make positive changes in how they behave around people who live with the disease.
Becoming a Dementia Friend can be vital for families of those suffering with dementia, giving them real-life support and understanding of how dementia is not only affecting their nearest and dearest, but also an opportunity to connect with others who are in a similar position or wish to support those suffering from dementia.
Euan Craig, Exemplar Chief Executive, said: “Dementia is a disease which is affecting an increasing amount of people in the UK. Due to this, the support networks for sufferers and their families are having to grow exponentially and I’m proud that our teams have come together to host the Dementia Friends sessions.”
Programme Manager, Alison Mullet, added: “We have encouraged and made time for our staff to attend the sessions, even those who aren’t in frontline care positions, to ensure that as a business we all have an awareness of the struggles and ways we can support the lives of those in our care living with dementia.
“This is just one area that we are developing ways we can deliver our commitment to support the improvement of dementia care.”
Alongside hosting Dementia Friends sessions, Exemplar attended and exhibited at the Young Dementia Conference in Birmingham. At the event Exemplar shared expertise with attendees about delivering high quality care for sufferers of dementia that can be aged as young as in their twenties.
www.exemplarhc.com
