Dementia training crisis as family forced to move dad from care home after just a month

A charity has demanded all care staff receive dementia training - as a Birmingham family told of having to move their late father from a home because it could not offer the right support. Ashwin Parmar's dad Ganpatlal worked for Barclays Bank for 45 years before he needed to move into care after being diagnosed with the condition.

The family were initially happy with their choice as staff spoke Gujarati and there were Indian residents - but the pensioner was there for just a month before the Leicester facility asked his relatives to find him somewhere else. Ashwin eventually moved his father to Elliott House in Kings Norton.

Ashwin, aged 63 and from Kings Heath, said: "My father had dementia for some time and we could not cope at home. His English was very good and he was well-educated but as the dementia took over, his English deteriorated and he went back to Gujrati. So I felt he needed a care home with Gujrati speaking staff and residents.

"I found one in Leicester and it was lovely, but my father was 90 and physically fit. He walked around a lot and greeted residents which staff couldn't cope with, I felt they encouraged residents to stay enclosed.

"After a month they served me a notice saying he had to be moved. But he needed stimulation which is why he walked around, I panicked and thought, what do I do now?

"They said he was free to walk around and even shout as they know dementia patients struggle with traumatic memories. My dad had freedom and no-one pestered him, staff were fully geared up for him and he did puzzles and jigsaws to stimulate his mind.

"Once people understand what is going on in a dementia patient's mind they will understand them. I didn't at first and sometimes still don't, I would get angry and shout at my dad.

"I still feel guilty about that. But once I learnt about dementia I understood why he did and said certain things. My father passed away in March last year after a chest infection. I made some mistakes and want to get the message out there for care homes to improve dementia training."

The Alzheimer's Society are calling on the government to make dementia training mandatory for the social care workforce. Statistics from the charity revealed only 29 per cent of care staff have received any dementia training.

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Dementia is a syndrome related to an ongoing decline of brain function, symptoms include memory loss, trouble communicating and lowered mental sharpness. People with dementia can lose the ability to remember events, or not fully understand their environment or situations.

According to the Alzheimer's Society, dementia is the UK's biggest killer and one in three people born today will develop dementia in their lifetime. It has called for a long-term social care workforce strategy, which delivers fair pay for care staff, reduces staff turnover, and provides high-quality dementia care.

According to the charity's dementia training report, there is currently no legal requirement for care staff to receive dementia training in either England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Dara de Burca, executive director of dementia support and partnerships for the Alzheimer's Society said: "Dementia is a progressive and complex condition.

"People with dementia need and deserve personalised care which enhances their quality of life and supports their wellbeing. Care staff make a difference to people's lives every day so it's alarming only 29 per cent have received any dementia training.

"We wouldn’t expect a midwife to deliver a baby without any training, but we expect care staff to provide high-quality care for people with dementia without the appropriate training. We all want the best possible care for the people we love.

"Our research shows investing dementia training reaps significant benefits and is cost-effective. It can reduce agitation in people with dementia, cut emergency admissions and GP visits, and decrease the use of antipsychotic drugs.

"Dementia is the biggest health and social care issue of our time, costing the UK £42 billion per year, but it isn't the priority it should be among decision makers. We're calling on the governments to take urgent steps to improve dementia care by making dementia training mandatory for the social care workforce."

Read the full report here.