PROMOTION Time to change the dementia stereotype? The word most commonly associated with dementia is sufferer yet some people with dementia are living meaningful lives. What's going on? THE DEMENTIA STEREOTYPE have confirmed the extraordinary some of us this happens when we sing in a group, for others it's a walk by the seaside, knitting a scarf for a friend. sharing a meal with family, painting a picture of great beauty. For many of us it is simply knowing that we are not alone but part of a loving community. Creating such magical moments is the very essence of good dementia care. Wehave allseen pictures like this in the media - anolder person staring vacantly into middle distance with a look of difference that good design makes to people's well-being despair, utterly lostina sea ofconfusion and loneliness. The words "dementia" and "sufferer" seem inseparable and we feel that sufferingistheveryessence of dementia. And yet some people with dementia are living fulfilling lives with regular and deeply meaningful moments of pleasure and happiness. Even just a few yearsago suchapossibility seemed like heresy. Today ourunderstanding is very different from the dementia stereotype that still prevails. PEOPLE NEED PEOPLE Weare social animals and people with dementia needothersaround themwho support themto remain as independent and active as possible and who help them through their challenges. As people progressthrough their dementia so the nature and frequency of support changes. While part-time support may suffice in the early stage, at some stage this involves the round the clock presence of others. Good social support iseasytodefine butharderto achieve -it is simply where people with dementia feel safe and loved THE END OF SUFFERING? Who of us can honestly say we don't suffer ? Suffering is as much part of life as happiness. The truth is that we cannot abolish the sufferingthat islife. We can however abolish the suffering that comes from inadequate care. And ina civilised societywe simply must. Yes we are different! Come and see IT STARTS WITH GOOD DESIGN Good dementia care starts with a for yourself. We'll put the kettle on. homely environment which is easy to understand and navigate. This helps people to use spaces as independently as possible. Good dementia design is still evolving and the Dementia Centre at Stirling University does great work in documenting best practice in dementia design. Ourownexperiences MAGICAL MOMENTS Petor de Groot principe at Dementia Care Devon whicn operates the Cotrage and Lodge at Rose Lodge, wo amal communities for people ing with Denentia A curious thing happens when we live in the moment. Confusion drops away and we forget about the past and the future. This is where the magichappens - a moment of clarity, a moment of creativity, a moment of pleasure, a moment of happiness, a moment of meaning. We are all different and for 20 CARE HOME GROUP odsdc Gold Award Rose Lodge, 2 isca Road, Exmouth, Devon EXB 2EZ CareQuality Outstanding Commission 01395 227071 + www.roselodgecarehome.co.uk 2016 Blog & dementia into: www.dementiacaredevon.co.uk PROMOTION Time to change the dementia stereotype? The word most commonly associated with dementia is sufferer yet some people with dementia are living meaningful lives. What's going on? THE DEMENTIA STEREOTYPE have confirmed the extraordinary some of us this happens when we sing in a group, for others it's a walk by the seaside, knitting a scarf for a friend. sharing a meal with family, painting a picture of great beauty. For many of us it is simply knowing that we are not alone but part of a loving community. Creating such magical moments is the very essence of good dementia care. Wehave allseen pictures like this in the media - anolder person staring vacantly into middle distance with a look of difference that good design makes to people's well-being despair, utterly lostina sea ofconfusion and loneliness. The words "dementia" and "sufferer" seem inseparable and we feel that sufferingistheveryessence of dementia. And yet some people with dementia are living fulfilling lives with regular and deeply meaningful moments of pleasure and happiness. Even just a few yearsago suchapossibility seemed like heresy. Today ourunderstanding is very different from the dementia stereotype that still prevails. PEOPLE NEED PEOPLE Weare social animals and people with dementia needothersaround themwho support themto remain as independent and active as possible and who help them through their challenges. As people progressthrough their dementia so the nature and frequency of support changes. While part-time support may suffice in the early stage, at some stage this involves the round the clock presence of others. Good social support iseasytodefine butharderto achieve -it is simply where people with dementia feel safe and loved THE END OF SUFFERING? Who of us can honestly say we don't suffer ? Suffering is as much part of life as happiness. The truth is that we cannot abolish the sufferingthat islife. We can however abolish the suffering that comes from inadequate care. And ina civilised societywe simply must. Yes we are different! Come and see IT STARTS WITH GOOD DESIGN Good dementia care starts with a for yourself. We'll put the kettle on. homely environment which is easy to understand and navigate. This helps people to use spaces as independently as possible. Good dementia design is still evolving and the Dementia Centre at Stirling University does great work in documenting best practice in dementia design. Ourownexperiences MAGICAL MOMENTS Petor de Groot principe at Dementia Care Devon whicn operates the Cotrage and Lodge at Rose Lodge, wo amal communities for people ing with Denentia A curious thing happens when we live in the moment. Confusion drops away and we forget about the past and the future. This is where the magichappens - a moment of clarity, a moment of creativity, a moment of pleasure, a moment of happiness, a moment of meaning. We are all different and for 20 CARE HOME GROUP odsdc Gold Award Rose Lodge, 2 isca Road, Exmouth, Devon EXB 2EZ CareQuality Outstanding Commission 01395 227071 + www.roselodgecarehome.co.uk 2016 Blog & dementia into: www.dementiacaredevon.co.uk