tommyontour: September 2017

Dementia Carer Voices is holding a series of events and talks to mark World Alzheimer’s Month 2017. World Alzheimer’s Month is an international campaign each September to raise awareness and challenge the stigma around dementia. World Alzheimer’s Month was launched in 2012 and World Alzheimer’s Day is on the 21 September every year. It is coordinated by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) and supported by a range of national Alzheimer’s charities.

2 out of every 3 people globally believe there is little or no understanding of dementia in their countries, according to research undertaken by ADI. World Alzheimer’s Month is an opportunity to recognise dementia as a global problem that requires global action.

To mark this month and the world Alzheimer’s Day in particular, Dementia Carer Voices will be engaging in a wide range of awareness ranging activity. Including,

UK Project Lead, Tommy Whitelaw giving ‘You Can Make a Difference’ talks to all first-year nursing students at Scottish Universities. DCV is taking the key messages from the Chief Nursing Officer, Fiona McQueen to all our talks and we are delighted that Fiona will join us speaking to future nurses;
A four-day DCV tour of Jersey to engage with health and social care professionals providing care to people with dementia;
‘You Can make a Difference’ talks across Ayr throughout September;
Launching a pledge tree with our Colleagues at Healthcare Improvement Scotland;
Tommy spoke on an expert panel in Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont about challenges faced by carers in Northern Ireland and across the UK, in the context of an aging population and financial challenges.

If you want more information about any of the events mentioned, or how you can get involved with Dementia Carer Voices, do please email us at dementiacarervoies@alliance-scotland.org.uk

Thanks for reading my blog, You can now view my 8 short flims here! http://tommy-on-tour-2011.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/my-mums-name-was-joan-this-is-our-story.html DCV photo DementiaCarerRGBlandscape3_zpsa2f3d5ff.jpg

DCV photo DementiaCarerRGBlandscape3_zpsa2f3d5ff.jpg

Thank you 80,000 people, Thank you for the 14,000 personal pledges

The Dementia Carer Voices team would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has made a pledge as part of the ‘You Can Make a Difference’ campaign and we are absolutely delighted to have received more than 14,804 pledges! This is an incredible milestone, and is only possible due to the commitment and compassion from everyone who has attended a talk or read about the campaign and made a promise to make a positive difference in the lives of people with dementia and their carers.

The team have been taking the ‘You Can Make a Difference’ campaign to 550 talks to date, reaching over 80,000, staff and students throughout the UK to highlight that no matter what their role, everyone working in Health and Social Care Services has the potential to transform the lives and experiences of people with dementia and their carers, often in seemingly small ways.

The talks involve Project Engagement Lead, Tommy Whitelaw, sharing his own personal experiences from caring for his late mum, Joan, and the experiences of others who have written to him since he went on tour in 2011. The campaign allows staff the opportunity to reflect on these personal stories and make a pledge based on one key message or action that they will take away and apply to their everyday practice to make a difference.

Irene Oldfather, Director, the ALLIANCE said:

“This work reaches out and touches the hearts of many people, not least Health and Social Care students and professionals. These interactions are an ideal opportunity for staff to pause and reflect on what is really important to the people in their care. Make a pledge, make a difference.”

Tommy Whitelaw, Dementia Carer Voices Project Engagement Lead, said:

“Carers tell us that a little bit of time, listening and understanding can make an unimaginable difference during what can be a very difficult and lonely journey. The pledges that we have received have been truly inspiring, and we’re looking forward to working with people and seeing those pledges fulfilled.”

How you can make a pledge We launched the ‘You Can Make a Difference’ Campaign in February 2014 and it has been so inspiring to see it grow. The campaign has really shown the difference that every single person can make, no matter how small it may seem. If you have been inspired to make a pledge , please get in touch and email us your pledge at dementiacarervoices@alliance-scotland.org.uk.

Your response has been truly inspiring, so from all of us here – thank you. We really can all make a difference. Stay tuned for the rest of 2017, which is shaping up to be a good year