A member of the team at local care at home specialist, Carefound Home Care, has become a Dementia Friends Champion to help with efforts to make Harrogate, Ripon and Wetherby dementia friendly communities.
Dementia Friends is an initiative run by Alzheimer’s Society and is the biggest ever programme aimed at changing the nation’s perception of dementia. Anybody can become a ‘Dementia Friend’ by learning a bit more about what it’s like to live with dementia and turning that understanding into a practical action – anything from behaving patiently with somebody showing signs of dementia to fundraising for a dementia-related cause.
Vicky Tate has successfully completed training with Alzheimer’s Society to become a Dementia Friends Champion in Harrogate, Ripon and Wetherby. This enables her to run local Dementia Friends Information Sessions and encourage individuals, businesses and other organisations to become Dementia Friends.
Having worked with Carefound Home Care since 2013, Vicky has plenty of experience of supporting people living with dementia. She also has a Diploma in Health & Social Care tailored towards dementia and has been trained in the specialist dementia care technique used by the team – the SPECAL method.
Vicky commented:I am delighted to have become a Dementia Friends Champion and feel very proud to be part of a growing network of people across England helping improve awareness and understanding of dementia.
Starting with Hampsthwaite Primary School and the Pine Marten Pub in Harrogate, we look forward to holding many local dementia sessions to make our community and businesses more dementia friendly.
Daisy Robson, Dementia Friends Regional Support Officer, said:Dementia touches the lives of millions of people across the country. Dementia Friends was launched to tackle the stigma and lack of understanding that means many people with the condition experience loneliness and social exclusion. It’s all about learning more about dementia and the small ways you can help. From getting in touch with someone you know living with dementia to wearing your badge with pride, every action counts.
