Tuesday 21 June 2016

Adopt a Care Home in Discover magazine



The Adopt a Care Home scheme features in the current edition of the University of Sheffield’s discover magazine.

The Adopt a Care Home scheme links care homes with local schools. The Adopt a Care Home scheme was set up to enable people with dementia to become more involved in their local community, to feel better about themselves and to teach children about dementia. Laura Di Bona and Sheila Kennedy  researchers from the University of Sheffield’s School of Health and Related Research carried out an evaluation of the pilot of  the Adopt a Care Home scheme. One care home and one school took part in the pilot and its evaluation. Forty-one children aged nine or ten were taught about dementia in school. Sixteen of them went on visits to their local care home to meet people with dementia. The children and people with dementia made “Lifestory” booklets together, in which they shared information about themselves and their lives.
The findings of the evaluation suggested the Adopt a Care Home scheme increased dementia awareness in children.  The children knew very little about dementia at the beginning but knew more by the end of the scheme. The findings also suggested that participating in the Adopt a Care Home scheme was enjoyable for many of the people with dementia . None were upset by the experience. The school and care home felt the scheme went well and are carrying on with it.
The scheme itself was established by and is run by Sheffield City Council. It has featured on Channel 4 news and BBC Radio Sheffield.
The scheme is ongoing and Laura Di Bona is seeking further funding to research its potential benefits in more depth.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the scheme, its evaluation and future plans or collaborations should contact Laura Di Bona: l.dibona@sheffield.ac.uk
For further information about the Adopt a Care Home scheme and to read a copy of the Adopt a Care Home evaluation report please go to: https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/caresupport/professionals-providers/scap/asc-pilots/care-home-adopt.html

To view the Channel 4 News feature please go to:

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Laura Di Bona researcher / occupational therapist

1 comment:

  1. The day is aimed at health care assistants, support workers and paid carers and is free of charge. Home Care Assistance

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