Finding the Light in Dementia Care

Aim

To create a multimedia dementia care training platform with a health & social care staff wellbeing hub, to support those affected by Covid

Sit back and listen to why Keith Oliver, former headteacher (who has a diagnosis of Alzheimers disease) supports our crowdfunder 

There is much we can do in stages to get this platform up and running thanks to the selfless help from creative souls such as Tom Tremayne, Jim Rich Film, Julia Powell and Kathryn Davies. So any pledges now are welcome to help build the videos and podcasts.

Thank you to Dementia Doulas of Cheltenham for successfully bidding £180 for Tony Husband's lovely cartoon.

Want to own an original Tony Husband (Private Eye) cartoon especially for you!? Auction has just started & finishes at midday on Saturday 10th April, bids start at £100, you can email me your bids at [email protected] or DM me on Twitter @Duetcare or FB.  This is priceless

Our vision is to to create an internationally accredited, cutting-edge multimedia dementia care training platform with a care staff well-being hub, to promote well, resilient staff who will provide compassionate dementia care throughout Covid and beyond - and is AFFORDABLE for all care providers!

I am Jane M. Mullins and I have cared for people living with dementia for 30 years, in memory clinics, care homes, hospital and at home. I have supported care staff in all my roles and created and delivered Personal and Professional Development training for Health and Social Care students. My PhD research- A Suitcase of Memories explored multi sensory ways to help people living with dementia communicate with their loved ones and stay connected. I also work as a Researcher at the Awen Institute, Swansea University.

“I’m just a carer”. I have heard carers say this time and time again, but at Finding the Light in Dementia Care™ we will highlight the exceptional skills, knowledge and attitudes it takes to care for people living with dementia well, throughout all stages of their condition. This includes Alzheimer's disease, and the rarer types of dementia such as Lewy Body dementia, Frontotemporal dementia and Posterior Corticol Atrophy. Finding the Light in Dementia Care™ will raise the profile of social care. 

The platform will also provide an individualised reminsicence film service  - A Suitcase of Memories, where our Creative Director Tom Tremayne can turn your old slides or 35mm photographs into scanned images & transfer them onto a high quality USB stick. Each slide is gently cleaned & lovingly finished. Images delivered in JPEG picture format and viewable on most devices. (UK only, contributors will need to cover their own postage when sending the images)

Gina Awad, BEM, Founder & Lead, Exeter Dementia Action Alliance & Dementia Activist  "Finding the Light in Dementia Care created and driven by Jane Mullins offers a holistic approach and will undoubtedly make a tremendous difference to all health and social care staff.  We all need support, whoever we are, no matter what we do, but working in the care sector often means we are natural empaths. Therefore, it’s needed that much more. Without caring for ourselves how can we care responsibly for others. I met Jane through our shared passion to make a difference in the world of dementia. She’s an inspirational human being and I champion her innovative creative initiative from the bottom of my heart."

Our Finding the Light in Dementia Care™ accredited training programme will be :

• Delivered through film, soundscapes, music and animations to make it enjoyable, memorable and interactive. 
• Full of great knowledge, advice and information.
  
• Trainees will be able to understand how dementia may affect people and learn how to communicate and connect with them, how to help bring them joy while undertaking personal care, and so much more.  
• As well as the training, they will be able to access a care staff wellbeing hub full of enjoyable resources, to help them care for themselves. 
• This will include resources to help them cope with the grief and bereavement, and other challenges that they will have experienced due to Covid. 
  This will benefit all staff, patients and residents involved in social and health care, care homes, hospitals and home care.

Tom Tremayne, Creative Director. Tom is a true creative, who studied Fine Art and then went on to graduate from Newport Film School. His first commercially released short film, When I Fall in Love (2014), a dementia awareness film was selected for screening at Cardiff Mini Film Festival in 2015. Tom is a skilled photographer, specialising in soundscapes, and has over five years' professional experience in analogue film reproduction, photo restoration and editing - look out for the Suitcase of Memories rewards!

Jenni Mack, Marketing Executive and experienced carer (Holmes Care Group) tells us why she is supporting Finding the Light in Dementia Care Training

As well as the above, the platform will provide resources for people living with dementia and their families that will help them to stay connected: this includes our Suitcase of Memories toolkit.

This training will be made affordable for all care providers through our Finding the Light in Dementia Care™ platform.

Being a Finding the Light in Dementia Care™ trained carer means that people can be confident that they or their loved one will be cared for with dignity, understanding, empathy and compassion at all stages of their condition, and that the people who care for them are well, resilient and supported.

By contributing to our Finding the Light in Dementia Care™ Crowdfunder you will help us to develop Finding the Light in Dementia Care™ into a multimedia online platform that will provide:

• Finding the Light in Dementia Training™ for care homes, home carers, hospital staff and families;
• An on-line self-care and wellbeing hub for carers and health and social care staff to help them heal from the stress, grief and bereavement caused by Covid and beyond;
• A Suitcase of Memories multisensory toolkit activity for people living with dementia and their families to help them cope with the self-isolation caused by the pandemic;
• Develop other Finding the Light in Care training: for example, for people living with Parkinson’s disease, stroke and more.

Finding the Light in Dementia Care™ will be delivered worldwide and will change the face of dementia care on a global scale. By contributing to our crowdfunder, you will automatically become a member of the Finding the Light in Dementia Care™ movement so that you are a key part of changing the face of dementia care worldwide (if you wish).

More Testimonials

Listen to why Kimberley Littlemore, Director of eHealth Digital Media supports Finding the Light in Dementia Training for her and her parents

Mari Evans, Mental Health Nurse - "The impact of the pandemic runs deep and we are increasingly aware of the effect this has had (and continues to have ) on the health and well-being of our careworkers. During this unprecedented time, it is vital that we provide a solid framework of support to assist our staff with their emotional and mental health; and we begin this process by acknowledging  and validating their experiences. Finding the light dementia care” offers a roadmap and a starting point to provide assistance, support and healing for the journey of recovery that lies ahead."

Nick Andrews, Research and Practice Development Officer, Swansea University - “Finding Light in Dementia Care” is an optimistic, evidence-informed, practical and deeply human approach to understanding and supporting people with dementia. It is born out of Jane's hands-on experience as a nurse and her integrity and passion for making the world a better place for all."

Lesley Butcher, Lecturer in Adult Nursing, Cardiff University, previous Dementia Care Home Manager -                                       Jane's enthusiasm for 'Finding the Light in Dementia Care' comes from a place of humanity and a genuine desire to help and support people affected by dementia. Jane Mullins is a professional, who is passionate about caring for people who are living with dementia & supporting those who care for them. This extends to not only the loved one's of people with dementia, but also staff who work in the industry. Jane's kindness & compassion for people is evident. Although she has valuable experience, knowledge, & qualifications in the field of Dementia Care, she approaches her work from a 'human' perspective. Her empathetic nature & non-judgmental attitude make her approachable. This is an asset in relation to teaching; learners can feel relaxed & at ease.  

I have felt personally and professionally supported by Jane when we were colleagues at Cardiff University. Jane is a very dynamic individual, who was keen to ensure students were supported to understand how best to provide empathetic care for people who are living with dementia and their families. It was a pleasure working alongside Jane in this role and I hope to collaborate with her further to promote empathy, care and compassion in dementia care.

Sian Clutterbuck Parkinson's Disease Clinical Nurse Specialist -       "The Finding the Light in Dementia Care training programme and care staff wellbeing hub is so vital to help all those affected by the covid pandemic. This will help support people who have dementia and also support the staff who care for them, now at this present time and for the future."

Dr Ann Williams -"Dementia care training is absolutely vital, not only for the welfare of patients but also for the wellbeing of their families and of the care staff. There could be no better person to develop this training than Jane Mullins – her approach is filled with compassion & genuine understanding of the diverse needs of dementia sufferers and their loved ones. The beauty of her ‘Finding the Light’ approach is in its simplicity & the genuine & meaningful connections it elicits." 

Andrea Nicholas Jones, Director Strategic Partnerships, Action for Elders, Wales Trustee & Chair of National Council, Hourglass (Action on Elder Abuse), Welsh Government Strategy for Older People Lead, British Irish Council Chair working group on Preventative Spend. "A Dementia diagnosis can be devastating for the individual and their family, however, with the right support, people can still live a productive and meaningful life. Critical for this is training for staff on how to enable the individual to maximise their wellbeing. This programme offers this and more and has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for anyone living with dementia. The care staff wellbeing hub will offer invaluable support to staff working in this challenging area."

Dr Stephanie Matthews - "Jane is a dedicated caring professional who works tirelessly to improve the lives of people with dementia and their families."

This project successfully funded on 13th April 2021