Police learn to be dementia aware

Jacqui Sheppard, community services representative of Hemel Hempstead-based Home Instead Senior Care, delivered the free Dementia Friends session to the officers at Hemel Police Station.

The government-backed Dementia Friends initiative aims to increase dementia awareness and change the way the nation thinks.

A Dementia Friend is someone who has attended an hour-long information session and has committed to an action that will make the lives of people living with dementia a little bit better.

Jacqui said: “These Dementia Friend sessions are really useful for anyone interested in understanding a little more about dementia.

“By delivering these sessions to people in the community, we are helping to make the local area more dementia aware.

“Becoming a Dementia Friend is a fantastic way to help make the local area a more dementia friendly place to live.

“I would urge any local groups or individuals who think they would benefit from this training to get in touch with me.”

Police Sgt Adele Hopkin said: “This was a really useful and informative session for the staff.

“As police and PCSOs, we often call upon the more vulnerable members of the community, and this was a really helpful insight into signs to look out for and best ways to identify with a person who has dementia.”

To find out more about the information sessions or becoming a Dementia Friend, contact Jacqui on 01442 233599 or see www.homeinstead.co.uk/hemelhempstead