The School of Psychology is taking a big part in a National initiative to raise awareness of dementia and the things we can all do to make a difference to people living with this condition. A group of our staff and students have trained with the Alzheimer’s Society and are running Dementia Friends sessions at the University and beyond.
Dementia Friends isn’t about creating experts or befrienders, it’s about helping people understand a little bit more about what it’s like to live with the condition and then turn that understanding into social action.
Joe Tobias, one of our second year students who has trained as a Dementia Friend Champion says “I am very proud to be part of this scheme. It’s a great way to take make my knowledge of Psychology interactive. During a Dementia Friend session I can share my ideas that could a real difference to peoples’ lives.”
Anyone of any age can be a Dementia Friend. Today the Dementia Friends were invited to Lincoln College on Monks Road to create Dementia Friends with their AS students. The year was split into 6 groups with a total of 140 students completing the 45 minute awareness session.
Aysha Bellamy, one of our second year students, ran one of the groups and said afterwards “The students were a really friendly, chatty group who were genuinely interested in finding out more about dementia. At the end of the session participants are asked to consider an action and many of the students that we met today left the session buzzing with ideas.”
We are still continuing with this promotion work at the University and if you would like to become a Dementia Friend, or train as a Champion, then please contact Rachel Bromnick (rbromnick@lincoln.ac.uk).
Could you contact me about giving a lecture in dementia awareness at Lincoln hospital on May 6th for a dementia day for the dental team.
Thank you
These are truly fantastic students. Doing such important work. Proud of you all!