Would you like to share your knowledge of dementia with healthcare and social care training programmes?

One way to ensure your knowledge of dementia is put into practice in the care and welfare sectors is through training programmes. To do this, however, you need to know your way around the ‘world of education’. Unfortunately, there isn’t just one route that leads there. But these tips will certainly help you on your way.

Tip 1: Make contact and listen

Get in touch with lecturers or curriculum developers on healthcare and social care courses. Drop by and sit in on a lesson. Listen to lecturers and students. What teaching materials already exist on the subject you’re an expert in? What knowledge is missing? What would be suitable teaching materials?

You can find out more about this through the Dementia Education Think Tank, which DEMPACT organises with lecturers from the DEMPACT network (see About DEMPACT).

Are you unsure which educational organisation is relevant to you? Or do you lack the right contacts? Get in touch with DEMPACT – we’d be happy to help you think through your options and put you in touch with the right people.

Tip 2: Don’t hesitate to ask colleagues

There are many fellow researchers who have already explored the world of education. They can tell you how to organise focus groups and which educational institutions, for example, are keen to test teaching materials. DEMPACT knows a number of these researchers and would be happy to put you in touch with them.

Tip 3: Find out what the education sector needs from you

Next, identify the overlap between what you have to offer and what the education sector needs. And consider in what form your knowledge might be useful. The qualification framework for healthcare training programmes can help with this: the set of core tasks, work processes and competences that together shape a programme. Or the Body of Knowledge for Care and Wellbeing (mboraad.nl). After all, you don’t want to turn up with a proverbial red square, whilst programmes mainly work with blue circles… See also ‘This is what teachers need from you’.

By the way, did you know that teachers often create their own teaching materials? Find out where they gather basic information about dementia at: ‘Three things you need to know about vocational healthcare and welfare programmes’.