Staff, students and families from the University of Chichester have celebrated the achievements of nursing and physiotherapy students who took part in the Time for Dementia programme.
A symposium was held last week to mark the conclusion of the initiative at the university and to reflect on the impact it has had on students, staff and volunteer families.
Time for Dementia is an educational programme run through the University’s School of Nursing and Allied Health. It pairs students with families living with dementia, giving them the chance to understand the condition beyond traditional clinical settings.
Over two years, students visited volunteer families on several occasions, learning more about the realities of dementia, its impact on daily life and the wider effect on relatives and carers.
At the event, staff and students reflected on their learning, while volunteer families also took part in a creative arts and crafts session to share their experiences.
Matt Ng, Senior Lecturer in Nursing and Nursing Lead for Time for Dementia, said: “I have had the privilege to be the nursing lead for the Time for Dementia programme since joining the University in February last year. The programme has had a demonstrable impact on students' journeys, forming a vital understanding of people living with dementia that is not often afforded in typical clinical placement settings.
“With my own clinical background in Older Persons Medicine, it has been touching to observe student growth from this perspective and to witness reflection and learning that can sometimes otherwise take years to develop.”
Nursing student Gemma Debono said: “Although a lot of us had some idea of what dementia is, we really learned a lot more about the impacts on the family and the holistic view of the situation. When I meet someone in practice with dementia, or their family member has it, I now have a much broader understanding.”
Although the programme has ended due to external funding being ceased, the university says its legacy will continue through the students involved.
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