Learning from people living with dementia as they develop, design and deliver educational events.

L IFE WITH DEMENT IA

NAVIGAT ING EMPOWERMENT

Our Process Trent Dementia, is a small charity based in the East Midlands of England.

We invited a group of people living with dementia to participate in a core advisory group with the aim of planning events that would be designed and led by them.

The group wanted two things: to create educational events for other people living with dementia, carers and professionals and to establish peer support groups as part of the independent DEEP network.

Our Rationale Historically, it is often professionals that initiate and then develop projects.

Our trustees are interested in learning how best to support people with dementia to lead this process.

We work to create a consultative environment that offers responsive support.

We start from a presumption of competence, promoting independence.

We offer help in terms of logistics, pastoral support and administration.

Life with Dementia We host monthly meetings to plan activities and events

Our 1st event Life with Dementia – What Matters to Us was held in November 2018 and our 2nd event Big Conversations was held in October 2019

Subtle Support &

Consultation

The support we offer is often subtle, it involves listening deeply as well as investing time to develop relationships and allow the work to evolve gradually. We provide regular meetings with short agendas designed to stimulate conversation, provide honorarium and expenses to value time and we clarify ideas gradually to develop activities or events that the core advisory group feel would be of use to others with a diagnosis.

Benefits to Participation

We have found that there are a range of benefits for participants in this project, a reported increase in confidence –particularly in terms of social interaction and a sense of renewed purpose in helping others learn from shared experience.

Learning • Responding to urgency • Managing tasks & workflow PACE

• Testing & checking • Consistency COMMUNICATION

• Time • Appreciating individualuality RELATIONSHIPS

• Acknowledging prior experience • Maintaining boundaries

EQUALITY IN CONSULTATION

Nottingham DEEP Support Hub

Contact us:

Trent Dementia Services Development Centre

Institute of Mental Health

University of Nottingham Innovation Park

Jubilee Campus

Triumph Road

Nottingham

NG7 2TU

Telephone: 0115 74 84220

Email: deep@trentdementia.org.uk

Twitter: @deep_notts