Mereside Academy

We want dementia awareness to become part of school life, so that we name and face dementia together.  We want to be a school which supports people affected by dementia – both someone with a diagnosis and their family/carers. We want:

• ALL IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY (pupils, staff and families) to be aware of dementia and to understand how to stay in step as patterns change through advancing dementia.
• ALL IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY (pupils, staff and families) affected by dementia to be welcomed, understood, respected and supported.

What is dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of progressive conditions that affect the brain.  The Dementia Research UK website explains: “Our brains are amazing. They work hard to store memories. They help us to make sense of the world. They control everything we think, feel, say and do. Our brains make us who we are. Like all parts of the body, brains sometimes become ill. There are illnesses that stop a person's brain from working properly. When a person has one of these illnesses, their brain starts to have problems doing all the jobs it has to do. The person may start to have problems with remembering, thinking, speaking or seeing what or where things are. They might say or do things that seem strange to us. They may find it more difficult to do everyday things. They may not seem like the same person they used to be. Doctors use the word dementia to describe these different problems.”...

Who can I talk to about dementia?

Mereside C of E Primary Academy

Dementia Coordinator/Contact: Ffion Carr

Phone: 01743 356283

Email: admin@mereside.shropshire.sch.uk

Mrs Carr is not an expert on dementia but is:

• COORDINATING ACTION: Agreeing actions for the Dementia-Friendly School Certificate and ensuring those are implemented, through coordinating others in school who want to be involved in acting on dementia together. This could be done with the support of the school’s CDA (Christian Distinctiveness Adviser) or alongside the local church.
• MAKING CONTACTS: Connecting with the local and wider community in order to identify local need and also possible partners (e.g., the local church or community group).
• SHARING INFORMATION: Sharing information, they find out about local groups and resources available for people living with dementia and their families/carers and, where relevant, signposting on to something locally.
• SOMEONE TO SPEAK TO: Listening to people across the school community who have concerns about memory loss or dementia, or who are affected by dementia.
• WHERE APPROPRIATE, PRAYING FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY DEMENTIA: During worship time, in class reflection time, or even in their own prayers remembering people living with dementia and their families/carers: this is an important part of the scheme.