A resource pack to teach school children about dementia has been launched. It is the culmination of a project that has seen 22 primary and secondary schools introduce the theme of dementia into their curriculums and which has reached more than 2,000 children. Schools can now download the pack, which has been produced by Sitra’s Health and Social Care Partnership and which is supported by the Alzheimer’s Society.
The pack offers help across a variety of subjects with the aim of building children’s insight into dementia, removing stigma and providing opportunities for students to interact with people with dementia. It includes science lessons about what happens in the brain of someone with dementia, a debate around the issue, and an art class designing a mural to depict what someone’s journey with the condition is like.
Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Society, said: “With a million people developing dementia in the next 10 years it is likely children will experience the condition in their lifetime, whether it is a grandparent, a parent, or even themselves. Educating children and young people about dementia will help them understand more about how it affects someone and remove stigma before it even develops.”
During the project, as well as incorporating dementia as a theme into lessons, a number of schools enabled children to hear talks from carers and people with dementia, and arranged visits to Alzheimer’s Society services and care homes.
• Visit: www.alzheimers.org.uk/schools