Shining a light on dementia

Gina Awad of Exeter Dementia Action Alliance and Dr David Kernick have been showing a group of third year Exeter University medical students what it might be like living with dementia, as part of a special study unit.

The students have been learning about the importance of social action to reduce the stigma of dementia and improve the lives of young people living with the disease and their families.

Dementia is a major public health challenge. The Exeter Dementia Action Alliance is part of a growing UK social movement group that seeks to reduce the stigma and misconceptions of dementia by raising local awareness of the condition. It aims to promote an inclusive community, offering empowerment to those with dementia and their care partners and to gain support from local services and businesses enabling small changes that make big differences in the community.

A large number of Exeter public and private organisations have already committed to this initiative.

This students are required to develop an intervention to raise the profile and understanding of dementia or facilitate the experience of people living with dementia  in a public or  healthcare context.

Gina Awad said: “I was delighted to deliver a Dementia Friends session at the start of the week, arrange a visit to Green Tree Court care home where we spent quality time with Helen Rushton, the Home Director as well as  having an informal morning with Barrie & Sara who live in the community with dementia. Good honest conversations took place.  It was illuminating and thought provoking for the students, and  for me a privilege to be able to share a variety of learning sources for them as part of their ongoing study."

Helen Rushton said: “It was wonderful to meet with the students and give them an insight on the importance and impact of outstanding dementia care in a residential environment.”

One student said: “I wanted to thank you for the time and effort you've put in organising this special study unit (SSU) and your work in promoting awareness within the community regarding Dementia. This has been a great experience for me so far and so far my most memorable SSU and I'm very thankful for the opportunity.”

Sara Carless who supports her husband said: “I feel that it’s really important anyone training to be a doctor should learn as much as possible about the challenges of living with or caring for someone  with dementia. It doesn’t matter which branch of medicine they ultimately decide to pursue, they will almost certainly encounter the effects it has on everyday life. The student doctors we met had chosen to learn more about dementia, and they were all interested and charming personalities."

Barrie Carless who lives with Mixed Dementia said  “I enjoyed talking to the young student  doctors and hope it will help them in their understanding of my condition.”