THE winners of Scotland’s Dementia Awards 2017 were announced at a ceremony held on World Alzheimer’s Day, 21 September, at the Glasgow Marriot Hotel.
The awards, a partnership between Alzheimer Scotland, NHS Education for Scotland, NHS Health Scotland and the Scottish Social Services Council, recognises the incredible difference that creative and innovative projects are making to the lives of people with dementia.
Now in their 6th year, the awards feature five best practice categories including: Acute Care, Community Support, Dementia Friendly Community, Innovation in Continuing Care and Innovative Partnership.
A special Lifetime Achievement Award was presented on the day to Henry Rankin for his outstanding contribution and tireless campaigning as chair of the Scottish Dementia Working Group.
The winners of Scotland’s Dementia Awards 2017 are…
Best Acute Care Initiative
NHS Forth Valley – ‘Improving the journey for people with dementia in the acute hospital setting – a collaborative approach’
The project aims to improve the acute hospital journey for people with dementia by reducing the number of late and/or multiple transfers a person experienced.
Through a collaborative effort, the team have managed to significantly increase the number of people with dementia transferred before 8pm and reduced multiple moves from 33% to less than 2%.
Best Community Support Initiative
The Active Aberdeen Partnership, The Foundry, Aberdeen Health and Social Care Partnership, Alzheimer Scotland and M&S Bank – ‘Boogie at the Bar’.
There are plenty of dementia-friendly tea dances across the country, but Anne Duncan and husband Bill, who has the condition, wanted to do something different.
Anne met with Sport Aberdeen, The Wellbeing Team, Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust and Alzheimer Scotland to help set up regular discos!
Best Dementia Friendly Community Initiative
Alzheimer Scotland and Tesco Forres – ‘Relaxed Checkout’
The supermarket’s innovative scheme to help customers who need a little extra time while out shopping made headlines across the world.
Tesco staff teamed up with Alzheimer Scotland to become Dementia Friends and made one of their checkouts a more inclusive experience for shoppers.
The idea has been replicated across Scotland, as well as supermarkets in America.
Best Innovation in Continuing Care
NHS Ayrshire and Arran with Onside Ayrshire Community Resource – ‘GAME’
In ward 3 at Irvine’s Woodland View hospital, staff recognised the need for an improvement project focusing on working with families, carers and patients with the aim of improving quality of life and meaningful outcomes for people with dementia.
GAME (Get to know me, Active assessment, Maintaining meaningful skills, Everyday) was the result.
Most Innovative Partnership
Alzheimer Scotland and HMP Shotts – ‘Dementia Awareness within HMP Shotts’
Dementia awareness in prisons is vital due to long sentences, older convicts and high dementia risk factors.
Over the last 18 months, this project between HMP Shotts and Alzheimer Scotland engaged 202 prisoners and 55 staff in dementia awareness and information sessions, as well as 40+ family/ friends within the visitors’ centre.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Henry Rankin
There was a standing ovation for Henry Rankin who received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with the Scottish Dementia Working Group.
A retired police officer, Henry was diagnosed with vascular dementia aged 57 and he delivered a brilliant speech on receiving the award, also revealing that he’s set to become a grandfather!
Everyone on their feet for 'Our Henry' #sda17 #lifetimeachievement ??? pic.twitter.com/xc06TGhfzP
— Kirsty Stewart (@KirstyKwilson) September 21, 2017
Scotland's Dementia Awards 2017
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