Staff and residents of Ashley House

A TOTAL of 19 staff from Ashley House care home, in Bordon, recently completed and passed the NCFE dementia care course, delivered by the Business Unit at BCOT.

Ashley House provides residential care for 36 residents and is staffed 24 hours a day by qualified, experienced and caring staff.

Dementia is one of the biggest health and social challenges facing the country.

In less than 20 years, there will be more than a million people living with a form of dementia.

With this predicted increase, Margaret Powell, manager of Ashley House, felt that it was essential for staff to undertake training so that they were ready to cope.

She said: "The course has made a real difference.

"Staff experienced an instant change in their understanding and awareness of dementia."

Team leader Barbara Nolan said: "My appreciation of dementia has changed significantly. I now recognise why residents act in a certain way or say specific things."

Activities manager Stella Charnan found the course really beneficial to her role.

She said: "We have just installed a country-style kitchen which we hope will prompt residents' memories of a familiar period in their lives."

Ashley House is always looking for volunteers to spend time with residents.

If you can spare even one hour a week, telephone Margaret Powell on 01420 489877.

The BCOT Business Unit offers a 15-week distance learning NCFE-accredited course in dementia care.

It has been designed for everyone who is involved in the care industry and aims to give all care workers the essential knowledge needed to offer the best professional approach to caring for people with dementia.

The course costs £65 per person (group discounts are available).

For further details or to enrol, telephone 01256 306237 or e-mail business@bcot.ac.uk

For a full list of all courses, log on to www.bcot.ac.uk/business

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