A multi-award winning Shropshire care company is raising awareness of dementia, not just within its own organisation, but by training up employees of other businesses in the county.

Bluebird Care, based in Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury, provides at-home care to children and adults, to allow them to stay living independently in their own homes and give carers some respite.

The company, which was named Care Business of the Year with over 50 employees in the Shropshire Partners in Care Awards earlier this year, already boasts five ‘dementia champions’ of its own.

All of the senior team have undertaken sessions with the Alzheimer’s Society to become ‘champions’. The key task for each the champions is to spread the word and educate people about what dementia is, how it affects people and how to cope with the challenges of living with it.

Following completion of the necessary sessions, Diane Davies, supervisor for the Oswestry area, is delivering the Dementia Friends sessions to other carers in the company.

On top of this, Bluebird Care is opening up the sessions to the local community and has partnered up with Wiltshire Farm Foods, The Co-op and Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service.

Director of Bluebird Care, Ian Barnes, said: “Wiltshire Farm Foods deliver meals to anyone living in their own home who needs help – which is especially important at this time of year, looking ahead to Christmas and as the weather gets colder.

“They will be introducing Bluebird to any customers who need assistance to stay living independently and we will introduce their service and offer nutritional guidance to our service users. Wiltshire has also given our carers nutritional training, especially focussing on dysphagia (problems swallowing) and we are returning the favour with dementia friends training in order for us both to be able to look after our customers better.”

Bluebird Care, has also created a partnerships to deliver the training to staff at Shrewsbury-based Co-op stores and the fire service.

“These are local initiatives and we hope to roll out the dementia sessions to all of the Co-op stores in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin,” said Ian.

“We are passionate about raising awareness of dementia in the community as there is so much more that can be done to improve the lives of people with dementia and Alzheimer’s. We are providing these sessions for free and it’s about trying to make Shropshire more understanding of these conditions.

“We have a strategic vision to increase awareness across the county, in many different ways. We have really embraced the dementia champion’s ideology and will be rolling it out to all of our care staff. By the new year we will make dementia friends training part of our thorough induction staff training,” he added.

For more information about Bluebird Care, call 01743 874343 email Shropshire@bluebirdcare.co.uk or visit www.bluebirdcare.co.uk/shropshire