6 January 2019

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

Background

Traditionally, medical students and other health professionals have gained experience with various patient groups through multiple, short term placements during their undergraduate training. However, there are concerns that this style of training does not best promote the attitudes, knowledge and skills needed to care for people who often have multiple long term health problems, including people with a diagnosis of dementia.

In light of this, we have developed the Time for Dementia Programme. In this programme students are given the unique opportunity of getting to know a person with dementia and a family carer, outside the clinical setting. This has been incorporated into the undergraduate curriculum of medical students at Brighton and Sussex Medical School and nursing, paramedic and mental health students at the University of Surrey. The programme has now expanded to University of Brighton, University of Greenwich and Canterbury Christ Church University.

What does it involve?

If you agree to take part in the Time for Dementia programme, you will be paired with two students. You will hear from one of our universities with the details of your students, the students will then contact you to organise a visit, in your home, at a time convenient for you. During these visits, students will discuss what it is like to live with dementia. It is expected that these visits shall last no longer than 2 hours. The same two students will visit up to 6 times over a two year period.

You can withdraw from the Time for Dementia Programme at any time. Apart from the time involved in the visits you will have no other responsibilities. We will keep in touch with you throughout the programme to let you know of any events should you wish to get involved.

The programme is also continually evaluated to understand how we can improve things, but also evaluating the programmes impact on the knowledge and understanding of the students, and you will be given the opportunity to take part in this evaluation. If you are interested in taking part, we will give you some information, and a member of the research team will contact you to tell you more about it.

What do the students want to learn?

Students will visit you to learn more about what it is like to live with a diagnosis of dementia or to care for someone with a diagnosis of dementia. Students will be asked to create a report about their experiences during the visits, which will be anonymous. This is purely a learning exercise designed to assess the students’ observational and writing skills, and as such the only person to see it will be the person who marks it. Students will not be able to give you any medical advice or care.

What are the possible benefits of taking part?

Through your participation in the Time for Dementia Programme you will help us to provide students with a long term experience of what it is like to live with dementia. Sharing your experiences may influence the way they work with people affected by dementia in the future.

What if there is a problem?

If you have any concerns at all about being involved, you can contact us at any time. If a visit needs to be cancelled for any reason someone will let you know as soon as possible.
If you no longer want to be take part you can withdraw by simply letting us know. If you experience any problems with a particular student, we will either raise your concerns with the student in question or look to pair you with another student.

Contact Details

If you have any questions about the Time for Dementia Programme please contact:

Philippa Charlton Surrey 07483 926 202
Natasha Shutte West Sussex 07525 597 503
Rachael Ross East Sussex 07483 137 539
Laura Pack-Hagan West Kent 07763 582 643
Joseph O’Toole East Kent 07710 381 546
Lauren Merrison Project Manager 07713 779 582

Email: timefordementia@alzheimers.org.uk

Twitter: @Time4Dementia