Course created by people with dementia up for national award
An innovative University of Bradford module co-created by people living with dementia has received a national award nomination.
The MSc Module Development Group at the university’s Centre for Applied Dementia Studies has been named as a finalist in the Dementia Care Awards 2024’s ‘Living Well with Dementia: Co-production & Partnership Award’ category.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on Thursday 13 June.
The University of Bradford has been recognised for ‘Understanding the Me in Dementia’, a Master’s module designed for health and social care professionals working with those living with the condition.
Bradford is the first university in the UK to co-produce a postgraduate module with people living with dementia.
Dr Danielle Jones and Clare Mason, from the University of Bradford’s Centre for Applied Dementia Studies, co-produced the postgraduate dementia education module, part of the MSc in Advanced Dementia Studies programme, with 22 people living with the condition, also known as Experts by Experience.
Clare Mason, pictured above, said: “It feels amazing to be an awards finalist because it values what we do.
“The module emphasises that people with dementia can learn new things given the right support. It is the first of its kind in the country.”
The ‘Understanding the Me in Dementia’ collaboration aims to improve experiences for those people living with dementia, who have often faced marginalisation and stigma, and being excluded from decision-making processes.
It enables healthcare professionals to understand the individual nature of dementia and help them to better communicate with people living with the condition.
A total of 12 people living with dementia who helped design the module, which started in September 2023, are involved in teaching it, alongside the university’s academic staff.
The elements of the module include: ‘Challenging Stigma, stereotypes and discrimination’, ‘Seeing the individual (understanding the me in dementia) and ‘Exploring and enhancing communication and inclusion’.
A series of 19 co-production workshops, focus groups and one-to-one interviews were held with the 22 people with dementia to design the module.
The inaugural Dementia Care Awards, which has 24 categories, celebrate outstanding practice in dementia services, recognising the work of people across the social care sector.
The ‘Living Well with Dementia: Co-production & Partnership Award’ award recognises projects which involve individuals living with dementia, innovation, involving individuals affected by dementia and making a difference. The category looks for impact, innovation, involvement of people affected by dementia.
Go to bradford.ac.uk/courses/cpd/understanding-the-me-in-dementia to apply for the Understanding Me in Dementia course from September 2024.