It’s been a busy few months for the Dementia Friendly Churches programme, run by Livability’s Community Engagement team, as they aim to equip churches to become more inclusive, welcoming places for people with dementia and their informal carers.
There are currently 800,000 people with dementia in the UK and this figure is expected to rise to 1 million people by 2020. Similarly, with an increasingly ageing population and a disproportionate number of older people attending churches in general, this is clearly an important issue the church needs to address.
Livability’s Dementia Friendly Churches programme
Livability’s Dementia Friendly Churches programme recently partnered with the Diocese of Lichfield to provide training to over 25 churches seeking to become more dementia friendly. The four part course was delivered along with a number of other local organisations including the local Alzheimer’s Society over a four month period. The course covers both practical advice and a theological approach to becoming dementia friendly. To find out more watch the video.
Dementia Friends training at Livability’s central offices
Last month, over 20 members of Livability staff took part in Dementia Friends training delivered by the Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia Friends is part of the Alzheimer’s Society national initiative to recruit 1 million volunteers to support people with dementia by 2015. The free one hour training session includes an introduction into the various types of dementia and how to recognise the early signs of dementia.
Livability joins the Dementia Action Alliance
Livability is now part of the Dementia Action Alliance, a national membership body comprising over 900 organisations committed to transforming the quality of life of people living with dementia in the UK and the millions of people who care for them.
If you are interested in making your church/organisation dementia friendly please visit: www.dementiafriendlychurches.com