Project title
Description of initiative
House of Memories is a museum-led dementia awareness programme which offers training, access to resources, and museum-based activities to enable carers to provide person-centred care for people living with dementia. It provides participants with information about dementia and equips them with the practical skills and knowledge to facilitate a positive quality of life experience for people living with dementia. House of Memories offers dementia awareness training for professionals, as well as buddy days for families, friends and volunteer carers. There are also a number of memory resources, activities and events.
Further information on the initiative
Themes: Culture and...
Keywords
Target group
Cultural field
Timeframe
Sources of funding
Results, benefits, impact and lessons learnt
Outcomes were attributed to the positive experience created by museum educators and staff. Observation data illustrate the value of the sophisticated, professional interpersonal skills of the lead facilitator and of the trust placed in the museum environment as a welcoming space to share personal stories and experiences of dementia care. Getting to know more about dementia was also a key outcome, illustrating the quality of programme content regarding dementia as a clinical condition and its various presentations. Concerning the wellbeing of participating carers themselves, data show a substantial improvement in self-reported mood upon immediate completion of the session. Longitudinal assessment of subjective wellbeing and perceived burden also show marginal improvements, albeit within a relatively short timescale (approximately 8-week period before and after participating in the programme.