Coverage Care staff from Shrewsbury based Coton Hill House care home are the latest to complete a Level 2 course in Dementia, assessed by Walford and North Shropshire District College. The knowledge based programme enables carers to understand the effects that dementia has and give them a better quality of life. 

Carers from Coton Hill House have learnt how to understand dementia, apply practical help for people who suffer with the disorder, caring for people with dementia and how to apply the best dementia care individually to each sufferer.

Carer Sherrie Leonard said, “Completing the course assignments has been hard work but thoroughly enjoyable as we have all worked as a team. It has certainly given us more of understanding of the effects of dementia and how to help the residents in our care home.”

Registered Manager Mary Langdown said, “With over 700,000 people in the UK with Dementia and over a third of sufferers living in care homes, our pilot scheme has been extremely well received by all at Coton Hill House. 19 staff have completed the course this year with 47 currently working on the pilot scheme. Once complete we hope to implement the course in all Coverage Care’s homes.”

Sherrie concluded, “We need to be prepared for the future. I urge all care staff to undertake the Dementia course. It is a vital for all carers to understand the effects of dementia and to improve our residents’ quality of life.”

Coverage Care is investing in new training and development programmes to enhance professional nursing practice and implement ongoing training, which will develop and improve staff skills. Coverage Care is working in partnership with Bradford University Dementia Group, which will focus on Dementia Care Mapping. This involves staff observing service users with dementia over a period of time, recording the information and communicating the results back to the staff. This information is then used to draw up an action plan to bring about change and improvements.

Mary Langdown concluded,” We want to have at least two Dementia Care Mappers in each of our 10 care homes, to maintain our high standard of services we provide.”

Picture : (L-R) Sherrie Leonard, Natalie Chayter, Jayne Pritchard and Emily Roberts celebrate new level 2 qualifications in Dementia Care.