Top award for dementia doctor

A Stirling University academic has scooped a top award for her one-day course aimed at professionals supporting people with learning disabilities and dementia.

Dr Karen Watchman won in the best UK dementia training initiative category for her postdiagnostic support for people with a learning disability and dementia course. The course was recognised for its role in delivering effective training in the dementia care sector at the ninth National Dementia Care Awards.

“The award is particularly important to me as it reflects the shift to increased recognition of the experiences of people with a learning disability, who are affected by dementia,” said Dr Watchman.

“We have known of the association between Down’s syndrome and dementia for many years now but it is only recently, when faced with an increasing ageing population of people with a learning disability and dementia, that health and social care services have actively sought information and evidence-informed support strategies.

“This course meets the need of such services with innovative impact already evidenced in practice for people with a learning disability and their families.”

The course was most recently delivered at Stirling University earlier this month, with another one planned for early 2019.

It is also available to organisations on request.

The National Dementia Care Awards, which are organised by the Journal of Dementia Care, were created to recognise the work of people in the dementia care sector.