Torbay & NHS Foundation are the first health and social care provider to have earner Purple Angel Dementia-aware status.
The status, confirmed by Global Purple Angel Dementia Aware Campaign founder, Norm McNamara.
Purple Angel now a global success
The Purple Angel Dementia Aware Campaign was started on the 12th January 2012 and it was formed to make Torbay the first Dementia friendly resort in the country.
Founded by Norman McNamara, resident of Torbay, Devon , UK who has also been diagnosed with dementia at the young age of 50.
Inspiration for the campaign came from the way in which a shopkeeper rudely spoke Norman McNamara.
He in turn decided to take steps to change the way in which people saw and treated others with dementia.
Fast forward, some 6 years, and the Purple Angel Dementia Aware Campaign has gone global.
Norms McNamara said:
It has been my honour and privilege to work alongside Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust for the last four years to promote the Purple Angel. I hope this collaboration will continue well into the future.
This is a groundbreaking initiative which I hope other Trusts across the UK will take up, and indeed, I would like to see hospitals all around the world become Purple Angel dementia-aware. This ‘world first’ has only been achieved because of the dedication and hard work by not only the staff, but by trainers and the fantastic co-operation from the Executive team.
95% of NHS staff Dementia aware
Back in Torbay, some 95% of all staff working in bed-based care across the Trust have received Purple Angel dementia awareness training.
The training enables staff to recognised the symptoms of dementia and how to best communicate with and support someone living with the condition.
An example of this could include allowing a person more time to explain things, use of gestures or cues to help a person a remember things.
The training also encourages people to carry familiar things with them, such as a family photo.
Jane Viner, Chief Nurse said:
We are very proud that so many of our staff have taken the Purple Angel dementia-aware training. When someone has dementia, whatever stage of the condition they may be at, it’s very reassuring for them – and also their carers – to see the Purple Angel logo. This immediately gives them the confidence to know that they are in a safe environment where there are staff on-hand who are ‘dementia aware’, who understand what they can do to help to make anyone with dementia feel more comfortable.
I would like to sincerely thank Norrms and all the volunteers who support the Purple Angel campaign for their dedication. I also want to send out a huge thank you to all our staff and the Trust Board for embracing the initiative and for all the hard work involved in achieving this over the past four years
The Purple Angel symbol represents staff to have an understanding of dementia and are passionate about raising awareness. /
