Time for Dementia Programme Dr Sophie Mackrell Network Manager

Who is involved? Health Education Kent Surrey and Sussex 400 people with dementia and their carers 275 medical students 340 adult nursing students 90 mental health nursing students 90 paramedic students Alzheimer’s Society Brighton and Sussex Medical School Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust University of Surrey

What is Time for Dementia? Two part process: Education and Evaluation Novel approach to dementia education for undergraduate health professionals underpinned by a longitudinal clerkship (LC) model LCs have been developed and implemented in the USA, Canada and Australia (Norris et al. 2009; Strasser & Hirsh, 2011) as well as in the UK at Cambridge (Oswald, Alderson & Jones, 2001). An LC is principally an attempt to overcome the limitation of block placements within emphasis on acute care and crisis instead provide increased insight to living with long-term conditions through the building of relationships and continuity of care (Hirsh, Walters & Poncelet, 2012).

How might a LC be useful in dementia education? For dementia, allows a unique opportunity to really understand how dementia affects the person and their family beyond receipt of a diagnosis. It also promotes better understanding of primary care, the wider social care and health system for those using it, as well as the impact of co-morbidities. It is also envisaged that that it will impact positively on future career choices Evaluation suggests that such programmes enhance the acquisition of skills, positive attitudes and knowledge (Jefferson et al, 2012; Mordhart, 2006).

Education Embed Time for Dementia in the 2014/15 curricula in the first year of nursing and paramedic training at the University of Surrey and in the second year of medical training at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS). In total four cohorts of undergraduate students will undertake the programme Recruit and support 200 people with a diagnosis of dementia and their primary carer Ensure longitudinal contact (2-3 years) between pairs of students and a person with a diagnosis of dementia and their primary carer

Evaluation Undertake a robust mixed-methods evaluation of the programme Students and a comparison group will be assessed on their knowledge and attitudes towards dementia, as well as their compassion. They will also be asked about their satisfaction with the programme, and this information will be used to revise and develop Time for Dementia. We would also like to explore its impact on future career pathways The impact of the programme on the quality of life of the person with dementia and their carer, and the carer burden, will also be assessed along with their satisfaction with the programme Develop a Dementia LC model with implementation guidance

If you or anybody you know would like to be involved : Dr Sophie Mackrell, Alzheimer’s Society: Dr Stephanie Daley, Evaluation Lead: Victoria Hare HEKSS Dementia Programme Manager, : For more information on the HEKSS Skills Development Strategy dementia programme, please visit