Involving the perspectives of those with lived experience is crucial, and the members of the Scottish Dementia Working Group (SDWG) and the National Dementia Carers’ Action Network (NDCAN) are at the forefront of this philosophy. Their active participation in many initiatives brings together a whole range of expertise and insights, which is so beneficial to the projects they champion. Two significant initiatives that SDWG and NDCAN members have been actively engaged with from the beginning are the ‘NHS Education for Scotland (NES): New to Skilled Educational Programme’; and Alzheimer Scotland’s innovative ADAM online portal. Recently, members from both groups dedicated a productive day to recording engaging content as part of their commitment to both these important projects.
NHS Education for Scotland (NES): New to Skilled Educational Programme
This programme has been developed in response to feedback from the NHS workforce which highlighted a need for dementia training at the informed and skilled levels of the Promoting Excellence Framework. Members of both campaigning groups have been involved in this project from the outset and recently participated in a poignant ‘in conversation’ recording, which will serve as an integral part of the training programme. Acknowledging that members' perspectives can sometimes differ, the groups collaboratively opted to create two separate recordings, ensuring that all voices were heard. The film recordings offered members the chance to share their experiences of living with dementia or caring for someone with the condition, discussing both positive experiences and negative impacts. They emphasised what is important for the health and social care workforce to know, and moreover, how they can contribute to making a positive difference. Once edited the recording will help ‘bring to life’ this vital education resource aimed at training the NHS professionals with the knowledge and understanding necessary to foster compassionate care and support.
Updating ADAM
ADAM (About Digital and Me) is an online platform created by Alzheimer Scotland which has been designed to support individuals living with dementia by connecting them with the right technology tools at the right moment. ADAM has been co-designed with the invaluable input of members from the SDWG and NDCAN groups. They have been involved since its inception to ensure the platform is dementia-friendly, accessible for everyone, and features products that are tailored to the needs of both those living with dementia and their carers. The online platform has recently gone through some updates, and once again the group members were on hand to assist in this process with Margaret from SDWG and Maureen from NDCAN only too pleased to narrate the introductory welcome message users receive when accessing the site. Listen to the new welcome message, and explore ADAM to discover how it can help you navigate the world of technology with ease and confidence: https://www.meetadam.org/