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:
or
Laura
Di Bona researcher / occupational therapist
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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