This is a brief round-up of the news and resources regularly posted and updated on our website.

New personal care resources for family carers

The Association for Dementia Studies (ADS), University of Worcester has launched a series of booklets for family carers supporting someone living with dementia with their personal care. The booklets come from the Crossing the Line research project funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The project aimed to gain an understanding of the experiences of family carers relating to their provision of personal care to people living with dementia and hear their often-hidden voice.  

ADS says: “Family carers often face challenges adapting to the role that providing personal care brings, which can be worsened by a lack of knowledge and skills, information, guilt and embarrassment. The challenges around personal care are often a tipping point for the person living with dementia to move into a care home.  

“The findings from this project enabled the development of accessible, co-produced educational resources for family carers, including a website, a series of 15 booklets covering a wide range of topics around personal care and dementia, and film clips sharing carer experiences. Health and social care professionals can also use the resources to provide advice, deepen understanding and initiate discussions about caring topics, and they may also be useful in support groups for family or unpaid carers, or to plan training and education sessions.” 

Topics covered by the booklets include going to the toilet, washing, bathing, dressing, mouth-care, shaving, hair care and foot and nail care. The booklets are available here https://caringhelp.on.worc.ac.uk/index.php/booklets/ and printed formats can be provided. More information and film clips at: https://caringhelp.on.worc.ac.uk/

Free counselling for unpaid carers 

Dementia Carers Count (DCC) offers free counselling sessions to unpaid carers. DCC’s clinical psychologist, Dr Gemma Fitzgerald, specialises in supporting dementia carers, and the service offers carers up to six free remote counselling sessions. The sessions are intended to help unpaid carers feel listened to and support them to understand their emotions, as well as exploring new coping strategies. Sessions are organised around what works best for carers and follow up support is available if needed. Call the DCC Carer Support Line free on 0800 652 1102 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday to find out more.

Meet Liv: AI powered by the experiences of people with dementia 

Innovations in Dementia has launched a film showing the work they’ve been doing with Lenovo to create an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool powered by the experiences of people living with dementia. 

Alzheimer’s Intelligence is a photorealistic 3D avatar named Liv, with custom AI. The avatar was created from a composite of images of 10 people living with dementia, and the large language model (LLM) dataset of the advice ‘Liv’ shares was created using data directly from the experiences of people living with dementia, including entries from Innovations in Dementia’s Dementia Diaries project and in-depth panel interviews. You can watch Innovations in Dementia’s ‘Meet Liv’ film here:

People with lived experience of dementia wanted to shape new DCAN strategy 

Think Local Act Personal (TLAP), who host the Dementia Change Action Network (DCAN), are developing a new strategy for DCAN. It is intended the strategy will be shaped by insights on the current lived experience, aspirations and ideas of people living with dementia, their families and friends. Find out more from TLAP here: https://thinklocalactpersonal.org.uk/news/personalising-dementia-support-building-a-strategy-on-lived-experience/

Find out how to get involved from DCAN here: https://dcan.org.uk/projects/lived-experience-into-strategy/

DSDC invite people with dementia and their care partners to join Lived Experience Panel   

The Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) are inviting people with dementia and their care partners to join their Dementia Lived Experience Panel. Being on the Panel involves taking part in research and providing feedback on products and services, as well as receiving updates and the option to attend social events such as DSDC’s blether sessions. Find out more and sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/stir.ac.uk/dementia-lived-experience-panel

2025 is NAPA’s Year of Musical Expression   

The National Activity Providers Association (NAPA) has announced that 2025 will be its Year of Musical Expression. Every year NAPA has a focus for their activities, and the 2025 campaign is designed to inspire and empower activity and care teams across the country to celebrate and integrate music into their activity provision. Find out more and download the toolkit here:
https://napa-activities.co.uk/get-involved/the-napa-year-of-musical-expression

New website for Dementia Carers Count

Dementia Carers Count (DCC) has revamped its website, with the aim of making it easier for carers to find the information they need. You can find the new-look site here: https://dementiacarers.org.uk

Magic Me’s Annual Report 

Magic Me, an arts charity that brings generations together, has published its annual report 2023/24, entitled Creativity, Connection and Growth. Magic Me began in 1989 with a focus on intergenerational arts practices and arts initiatives for people living and working in care settings. In this latest report Magic Me discusses Spark (formerly Magic Moments) that offers creative, sensory activities which improve the quality of life for older care home residents, and notes the ability of Spark to reach isolated residents, including those who are living with dementia. Magic Me also make reference to their presence at the 2023 UK Dementia Congress. Read their report here: https://magicme.co.uk/magic-me-annual-report-2023-24-creativity-connection-and-growth/ 

Young onset dementia resources launched

Care England has launched resources in partnership with Dementia Forward and Wellburn Care Homes to raise awareness and advocate for action to support individuals living with young onset dementia (YOD) across England.  

The resources are in response to the current care pathway often failing to meet the needs of younger people with dementia. Access the resources here: https://www.careengland.org.uk/young-onset-dementia-yod/

QCS share Culturally Appropriate Care Guide 

In Black History Month (October 2024) Quality Compliance Systems (QCS) shared a free resource: The Culturally Appropriate Care Guide’. The guide is aimed at care providers across England, Scotland, and Wales and supports the delivery of person-centred care that respects the cultural identities of people who draw on care and support services. Download the guide here: https://www.qcs.co.uk/culturally-appropriate-care-guide/

The long goodbye

Members of the board of Dementia Community have met with the Alzheimer’s Society to discuss our reservations and our members’ responses to this advertising film, and to explore the future relationship between our organisations. A joint statement is posted on our website HERE