- being offered awareness and information session (say 60 minutes) so as to become a dementia friend
- in-class studies about dementia
- learning sessions which involve those living a journey with dementia and /or their carers, eg discussion
- leisure or recreation sessions,
- researching, reviewing and presenting findings, eg a book review
- voluntary work.
Where voluntary work or other inter-actional activities are held the appropriate safeguarding would be needed to protect both students and those with dementia.
As a subject dementia itself might be an appropriate way to develop an understanding, covering:
- types
- symtoms
- stages of life with dementia
- life-style and other causes
- assessment, diagnosis, and clinical treatment
- social and end-of-life care
- the law of mental capacity
- legal safeguards to provide that the wishes of the individual are observed as far as possible.
Leisure and recreation activities provide opportunities for the likes of:
- reminiscing
- inter-generational transfer of skills
- activities involving information and communication technology
- playing games
- music and dance
- walking and other exercise.
Voluntary work, subject to age and other constraints, might include:
- assisting in setting up a dementia friendly community or organisation
- assisting in recreational activities in a care home
- assisting in event management.
A school, college or university might consider that a team of staff become a Dementia Friend or a Dementia Friend Champion. This is as a good beginning to get a measure of dementia awareness and information.
Any adult whether a Dementia Friend or not might go on to become a Dementia Friend Champion (DFC). Awareness and information sessions are conducted by a DFC but it is not necessary to be a Dementia Friend before becominga DFC!
An 18 year old student might also be encouraged to become a DFC, perhaps having become a dementia friend at primary school or later.
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