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Age Scotland’s dementia training project announces new 2022 dates

4 January 2022

Age Scotland is offering free dementia training sessions for groups, organisations and individuals in Scotland.

The training is open to those looking to learn more about dementia and how to be dementia-inclusive, as well as unpaid carers of people living with dementia who would like to better understand their rights.

The charity’s dementia training project currently runs three tailored programmes:

Dementia Awareness training covers a range of topics relevant to understanding dementia and being inclusive of those living with the condition.
Dementia Inclusion training is designed to support clubs, groups and community organisations carry out their activities in ways which enable people living with dementia to be included and involved as fully as possible.
The Dementia Carers’ Rights workshop can help unpaid carers of those living with dementia better understand their rights and how to access them.

With new dates available for January to March 2022, Age Scotland is encouraging people across the country to sign up now.

In an effort to ensure training opportunities are as accessible and inclusive as possible, the charity also offers a self-study platform which allows carers to learn about their rights when it is convenient for them and without time constraints.

Age Scotland’s Dementia Training Coordinator, Sandra Brown, said:

“With around 93,000 people in Scotland living with dementia and this number forecast to increase over the next decade, early diagnosis of the condition is crucial and can help improve the quality of life for people living with dementia.

“Our free, accessible training seeks to raise awareness of dementia, the signs and symptoms and how to be inclusive of people living with the condition.

“We’re also proud to offer free, accessible training for unpaid carers of people with dementia to ensure they have a greater understanding of their rights, and how to access them. There’s strong evidence that many carers are unaware of their rights as carers, and this lack of knowledge may be a barrier in accessing vital support.

“By taking part in one of our friendly, interactive workshops, or accessing resources through our self-study hub, carers can be better prepared to tackle the complex and sometimes frustrating challenges they can face.

“Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, our team has been delivering training online via Zoom. The online element means people from more remote communities can take part just as easily as people from larger towns and cities where in-person training would have taken place. It’s also a chance to bring people from different areas together for a very worthwhile exchange of ideas and experiences.”

To find out more and sign up for an Age Scotland dementia training session in 2022, please visit www.age.scot/dementiatraining.