House of Memories, the world leading museum-led dementia awareness programme from National Museums Liverpool (NML), has launched a new online training course for use by professionals in the sector, along with the return of in-person training events for informal carers, families, friends and community volunteers.
September is the 10th anniversary of World Alzheimer’s Month, with focus this year being placed on diagnosis and the power of knowledge – by shining a light on the warning signs of dementia and encouraging people to seek information, advice and support, the campaign upholds the importance of a timely diagnosis. Launched to coincide with this year’s World Alzheimer’s Month, the new dementia awareness online training course from House of Memories is designed to support professionals to provide person-centred care for people living with dementia.
Composed of four modules, the course is hosted entirely online, for the user to work through in their own time. Learners will be introduced to museum memory resources, learning practical skills and activities to communicate with people living with dementia – to support the sharing of their life stories, and help see the person – not the condition.
After enrolling on the course, learners will understand how people experience dementia through a series of powerful videos which are based on personal, real-life stories. The course also includes a section on the award-winning My House of Memories app, which allows the user to explore objects from the past and share memories with those being cared for. Since the June 2014 launch of the My House of Memories app at the House of Commons, it has been downloaded more than 35,000 times and has over 25,500 users who have taken part in almost 86,600 activity sessions. It has won regional, national and international awards and has been rolled out in London, the Scottish Highlands, Minnesota, US, and Singapore.
Carol Rogers, Director of House of Memories, said:
“We are so pleased to be launching this new online training platform in time for World Alzheimer’s Month – we are confident that professionals who enrol on this course will feel empowered to bring the skills they acquire into their important work within the health and social care sector, and that the people living with dementia in their care will also benefit from a new found sense of wellbeing as a result.”
“From testimonials on life with dementia from those who live with the condition every day, to some of the practical museum resources that form the basis of our activities – from starting your own memory boxes, the My House of Memories app and more – the course will give some grounding and insight for those seeking to further their understanding and awareness of Dementia.”
Dementia awareness online training for professionals is priced at £54 and available online now. Find out more and enrol here.
In addition to the new online training, House of Memories dementia awareness workshops for family and friends, as well as for professionals are returning in person at the Museum of Liverpool this September. Further information on these workshops is as follows:
House of Memories dementia awareness workshops for family and friends
16 September, 14 October, 18 November – Museum of Liverpool. (Free – booking required)
The workshop is free for family members, friends and community volunteers, and is an introduction to dementia, using powerful videos based on real-life stories, to explore the challenges of supporting someone living with dementia. It is an opportunity to share experiences with other families and experience resources and activities to support you and your loved ones with dementia, at home and at the Museum of Liverpool.
House of Memories dementia awareness training for health and social care professionals
15 September, 13 October, 17 November – Museum of Liverpool (£90 – booking required)
This half-day training session – available to book as an individual or as a care home – provides skills and resources to help a professional carer and their team support people to live as well as they can with dementia. Professionals will experience House of Memories memory activities including museum memory walks and memory boxes, and try out the My House of Memories app which can be used in any care setting.
