What a terrible thing dementia is, and no wonder it requires specialist care. Alzheimer\u2019s is the nastiest variety, but there are many forms that can turn once benign old people into rather frightening figures, because their irrational terror is infectious. You straighten Elsie\u2019s cardigan, and she shrieks: \u201cYou\u2019re trying to kill me!\u201d Her cries penetrate the mental fog of the other residents in the room and soon they are all agitated.<\/p>\n
How can even the capable Sir Gerry Robinson, former chief executive of Granada, hope to \u201cfix\u201d these homes when dementia itself is unfixable? We shall have to wait for the second programme to hear his full proposals, but it didn\u2019t take more than a few minutes to identify one scandal. The first home he visited was Woodland House in Torquay, a privately owned dementia home funded by the local authority. It was managed by Jane, a tubby nurse who said cheerfully, \u201cThese are our little residents,\u201d indicating a circle of mournful \u2013 and not noticeably little \u2013 old people left to stagnate in a dingy lounge.<\/p>\n
Is education the answer?\u00a0 Take a look at our Dementia Care courses here: Dementia Care VRQ<\/a>\u00a0and Positive Dementia Care Certificate<\/a><\/p>\n