This bespoke programme has been specifically designed to support the educational and practical learning needed to support and sustain family care for a relative or friend living with dementia. The focuses are as follows:
- Enhancing knowledge and understanding of the effects of dementia
- Developing practical skills in the fundamentals of care and caring
- Facilitating opportunities for peer-to-peer learning
- Introductions to community services and support and making healthcare connections
The programme of educational sessions has been developed by NHS Fife, Fife Health & Social Care Partnership, Alzheimer Scotland, Fife Carers Centre and STAND. The sessions are for people caring for family members or friends living with dementia. Each session is two hours long including time for refreshments and peer conversation.
The sessions are held on either a Wednesday or Tuesday afternoon, 1.30-3.30pm, in various locations across Fife including:
- Fife Alzheimer Scotland Brain Health and Dementia Resource Centre in Kirkcaldy (behind Stance 7 at the bus station)
- St Andrews Community Hospital, Largo Road, St Andrews
- Jean Mackie Centre, Dunfermline
See the links below for the topics of all the sessions. All sessions are optional, and you’re welcome to attend whichever ones you feel will be most helpful to you.
At some venues, you are very welcome to bring the person you care for along. Where space allows, a separate room will be available where Alzheimer Scotland staff will lead a range of engaging activities with the group. Unfortunately, we’re not able to offer this at every location due to room availability. When you book, we’ll confirm whether this option is available at your chosen venue.
Although the sessions are intended to be educational it won’t be like being back at school. The sessions will be interactive, and we welcome lots of discussion.
There is no charge to attend the sessions, but places are limited at each session to a maximum of 12 people.
Booking a place
You can register for a place at any of the sessions by completing the online form below, or alternatively use the email address or phone number.
Email: BSHQ@fife.gov.uk
Phone: 01592 583188
Further information
For further information please email: fife.dementiateam@nhs.scot
Videos
Session co-ordinator Maggie explains what to expect when you come along to a session.
Kerry talks about how she has benefitted from attending a session.
The sessions
Recognising your role as a carer
This informative session will celebrate and acknowledge the crucial role you play as a carer. Learn about what it means to be a carer and the importance of looking after your own wellbeing. We will explore building resilience, accessing support, and navigating family dynamics after a diagnosis.
What is dementia and anticipatory grief?
This session will provide a clear and supportive introduction to dementia, its different types, available treatments and will explain post-diagnostic support. The session will help you as a carer to understand the changes ahead whilst offering reassurance and practical guidance.
Carers rights
At this session you will learn about the support available to you as a carer and understand your rights in this essential role. This in-person event will provide valuable insights and resources to help you navigate your journey as a carer. This session will include information on benefits, legal planning (Power of Attorney and Guardianship), and key legislation such as the Adults with Incapacity Act.
Strategies to support independence
(Technology and aids)
This session will explore practical ways to support independence, including technology, aids and adaptations, and transport options. It will look at how telecare and social work services can help maintain quality of life.
Psychological distress in dementia
At this session you will learn about the psychological issues sometimes experienced by individuals living with dementia. Learn about managing stress, distress, sundowning, hallucinations, and paranoia in dementia. It will provide strategies for reassurance and support, and help you to understand when to seek help.
Social care and social work
This informative session will help you navigate the complexities of social care, social work and self-directed support. This event will provide valuable insights and resources to support you in your journey.
Effective communication strategies in dementia
This session will explore practical strategies to enhance communication, manage misunderstandings, and how to respond with confidence when a person with dementia doesn’t recognise you.
Future care planning and move to a care home
Future care planning is the process of documenting what matters most to you, ensuring that family, carers, and healthcare professionals understand your choices.
This session will explain the process of future care planning and help you understand how to make informed decisions about your health, care, and personal wishes, and those of the person you care for, ensuring your voices are heard.
Managing carer stress
This session focuses on carers’ wellbeing, including building resilience, managing loneliness, and accessing counselling and emotional support.
Caring with confidence: practical skills for carers Part 1
This session offers guidance on key care aspects of care, including eating and drinking, managing pain, delirium, and hospital stays. It introduces useful tools like ‘Partners in Care’ and ‘Getting to Know Me’.
Caring with confidence: practical skills for carers Part 2
The aim of this session is to provide carers of people with dementia with practical knowledge and skills to support essential aspects of physical health, including continence, foot care, mobility, hearing, vision and oral health. The session will focus on recognising common issues, implementing preventative care, and ensuring comfort and well-being for both the carer and the person with dementia.
Palliative care, end of life, bereavement and life after caring
This session will explore end-of-life care, coping with bereavement, and finding purpose after caring. It will include real-life experiences from former carers.
Your amazing brain
The aim of this session is to enhance the knowledge and skills of carers of people with dementia by providing them with practical strategies to support brain health—for both themselves and the individuals they care for. The session will empower carers with a deeper understanding of brain health, dementia prevention and risk reduction, and self-care practices to improve overall well-being.
Music and dementia
Music has an important role to play in the care of people with dementia. Many people are already aware of the fact that musical memory is retained by people even in the latter stages of the illness, but this session will empower you to use music - including protocols like Playlist for Life - to continue to experience meaningful, relational moments, enhance your loved one's sense of personhood, and reduce their experiences of distress.
Links
Alzheimer Scotland Brain Health & Dementia Resource Centre
https://www.alzscot.org/living-with-dementia/getting-support/find-support-near-you/fife-dementia-resource-centre
Fife Carers Centre
https://www.fifecarerscentre.org/
Statement
During the course of your clinical or wellbeing care with NHS Fife, it may be recommended that you access third party websites and Applications (Apps). The websites and Apps are provided for your information and convenience only and are not an NHS Fife endorsement, of the content and services provided.
NHS Fife makes no warranties or representations, express or implied, about such linked websites and third-party Apps. If you choose to access any third-party website or App and utilise the information resources provided and/or enter any contract for the supply of goods or services, you do so entirely at your own risk. NHS Fife accepts no liability for damage or loss of any personal data, caused in the connection with the use of or reliance on any information, material, products, or services contained on or accessed through any such linked websites or third-party Apps.
Please note that such recommended websites and third-party Apps are not intended to replace the advice of NHS Fife healthcare professional.
