Dementia qualification to help improve care

Citation

(2012), "Dementia qualification to help improve care", Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, Vol. 13 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/qaoa.2012.55913caa.009

Dementia qualification to help improve care

Article Type: News and events From: Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, Volume 13, Issue 3

An innovative new higher education course has been developed for people managing and delivering care to people with dementia in Wales. Habren, a partnership between Swansea-based not-for-profit organisation “Gwalia” and the University of Glamorgan’s Faculty of Health, Sport and Science, has developed separate two-year programmes for staff and managers. They aim to address the need for specialist training in dementia care – and the first set of students started the course in May 2012.

It is thought to be the first programme in which a university and social landlord have formed a company to develop a bespoke education programme in dementia care. In the UK there are 800,000 people living with dementia, a figure that is likely to rise to a million by 2021 at a cost of over £23 billion to the country. Gwalia’s experience in this field has helped to inform course content and meet its commitment to addressing the specific needs of people with dementia. The training will allow staff to deliver more meaningful care and support. In addition to retirement accommodation, integrated extra-care accommodation and home care services.

Successful completion of the course will result in a certificate in higher education in Health and Social Care Worker Education. There will be 12 delegates on the first course which will be aimed at Gwalia staff and managers. There will be the opportunity for other organisations to join in the future.