The concept of Time for Dementia was conceived to provide undergraduate healthcare students with understanding, empathy, knowledge and compassion to support families living with dementia in the future.
The programme prepares students with these skills by providing longitudinal contact with a person living with dementia and their family carer. Students are paired and visit a family on six occasions over the course of two years. Students visit the same family throughout the programme. Visits last approximately 1.5 hours. During this time, students and families spend time getting to know each other, and families share experiences about their day to day lives and the real-life impact of living with dementia. This provides students with a unique insight into the life of someone living with dementia and that of their carer and the challenges and changes they may face over time, as well as what helps people to live well with the condition.
Students and families are supported to ensure that visits enable in-depth learning through the establishment of a meaningful relationships between those living with dementia and student learners.
Watch our video below to find out more about the programme.