Coping with Dementia

 

NHS Health Scotland, in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland, has developed a DVD version of the NHS Health Scotland publication 'Coping with dementia: a handbook for carers'. The resource is based on the experiences of carers of people with dementia. The launch event will bring together those who have been involved in the development of the DVD, interested carers and organisations working in the field of dementia care. The resource aims to offer accessible information to carers of people with moderate to severe dementia including those whose first language is not English, people with sensory impairment, learning disabilities and literacy problems. The DVD uses carers' voices and the information from the book to give practical advice on coping with caring for someone with dementia, help carers feel that others share the experience and suggest where to go for help and for more information.

 

NHS Health Scotland will be distributing the DVD, supplying them to every health board and the Alzheimer Scotland's 24 hour Dementia Helpline from June 2010. Carers of people with dementia across Scotland will have access to a free copy following the launch. The DVD content will also be accessible online through the NHS Health Scotland You Tube channel.

 

The launch will be presented in two parts: Margaret Burns, Chair of NHS Health Scotland, Henry Simmons, Chief Executive of Alzheimer Scotland, a representative from NHS Lanarkshire, and carers involved in the making of the DVD will speak about the resource. Then a 10 minute show reel of the DVD will be shown. There will also be an optional screening of the full 80 minute DVD.  

 

To register to attend the launch, please download and complete the Coping with dementia booking form and send no later than Wednesday 2 June to: Nicola Thomson, Project Administrator, NHS Health Scotland, Woodburn House, Canaan Lane, EH10 4SG, email: nicola.thomson2@nhs.net, tel 0131 536 5522, fax: 0131 536 5501.

 

Please note due to high demand places are limited. Confirmation will be sent by Friday 4 June. For travel expenses or contribution towards carer expenses, please contact Nicola. If you can't make it to the launch, there will be three other regional events later this summer, to further promote the DVD across Scotland. Venues, dates and times will be confirmed shortly.