Southport's Birch Abbey Is The Uk's First True Dementia Care "Memory Centre"

Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Article Date: 05 Mar 2009 - 6:00 PDT

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Chickens, technology, Wiis, mini golf and dog walking, have catapulted a pioneering Southport care home into the forefront of dementia "memory centre" development.

The iPersonally Memory Centre at Birch Abbey care home in the Merseyside town is a template to transform the country's failing dementia care services - and uses chickens, high technology, Wii games consoles and mini golf, amongst other things, to stimulate clients mentally and promote physical activity.

Birch Abbey introduced and developed a unique dementia care approach with new ownership more than three years ago, and has found itself already operating what might be considered a model for the recently announced government national dementia strategy, intended to change attitudes and improve services.

Chief Executive Dan Lingard said: "The government's plans for 'memory centres', and an enhanced dementia support programme, are far closer to the key needs of people and their families living with dementia - but we have been developing this concept for the past three years, we're already delivering what the government is proposing.

"We are a genuine memory centre, and with our new £5 million investment programme will be able to dramatically expand our services and facilities; in a nutshell we are developing the ultimate memory centre.

"It's not really the Government's role to say how to fix something, just that it needs doing, and then to provide support and resources to ensure it does happen. The solution design needs to come from those of us working with people and families living with dementia.

"We have the most advanced and exciting memory centre design, and we are building a bigger one, but this is something others can and should be doing - so we want to work with other providers who want to introduce our proven concept to other towns. We were being asked by other providers for input and ideas for their own services and it just made sense to develop this further," said Dan.

iPersonally Memory Centres will be franchised to help ensure the centres are available in more towns as quickly as possible and get rid of the postcode lottery currently making services so unfair.

"We will keep developing the ideas and fresh thinking at our founding centre, Birch Abbey, in Southport. It takes too long for a new chain of centres to be built and opened, so we decided from the outset to help other providers to 're- engineer' their services and provide their town or community with their own iPersonally Memory Centre."

"Key to our 'iPersonally' approach is the recognition that whereas traditional government-inspired dementia care had focused on what is important FOR people with dementia - health and safety, for example - we believe this must be balanced by elements which recognise that there are things that are important TO people with dementia and to ignore these simply makes matters worse.

"For instance, people with dementia can struggle to communicate their wishes, but sometimes it's because others will not listen, or because they assume they must make decisions for them.

"In this situation it's not surprising that a person who loves to take their dog for walk in the evening becomes frustrated when safety concerns of others takes this activity away from them. Where is the service that accompanies that person to walk their dog? If such a 'support service' had existed then this person might not have developed the stress and behavior that lead him to 'need' a care home - and eventually a nursing home.

"Helping people living with dementia to get on with as much of their life as we can, using mind and muscles - even in seemingly small ways - can have a massively positive effect," says Dan.

"At Birch Abbey, we've creating a 'living sensory garden' - we have a chicken run; the chickens draw clients out into the garden, they provide a talking point; what's more, people collect the eggs, make cakes or biscuits and talk about what they're doing amongst themselves and to their family members, hence providing valuable mental stimulus.

"Wiis provide exercise of body and mind. One client suddenly lit up when he saw golf on the Wii - we knew he was a keen golfer, but we also found out that he had a golfing nick name (your Wii character has to have a nick name) and that he would dance a jig with each successful putt. Another client watching him started to advise on the correct club for each shot, it turned out she had been the local ladies golf captain.

"Those are specifics, but we have packaged up our approach, attitude, skills, training and technology into 'iPersonally'. iPersonally will be offered to other dementia care and support homes and organisations who share this thinking and passion for change.

"The iPersonally approach is driving an understanding that while the onset of dementia cannot be reversed, it can be contained or slowed - primarily by stimulating the mind and keeping the body even just mildly active. iPersonally creates those options for people who are living with dementia," said Dan. At the heart of iPersonally approach is the belief that technology must be better harnessed to support people with dementia, their carers and wider support network.

Dan Lingard invented "MyAmego", a specialist monitoring system which supports people living with dementia. MyAmego (http://www.myamego.co.uk), an award-winning world's-first, is now being installed in care homes, day centres, "extra care" flats and individual's homes.

Dan Lingard is a former software developer working with IBM and the BBC. He says much-misunderstood dementia needs to be fought, and people with the condition, and their family and friends, supported and inspired rather than simply have their basic needs attended to.

Birch Abbey care home is to undergo a £5 million investment programme starting early in 2009, significantly increasing its capacity, introducing a wider range of services, facilities and team members.

iPersonally