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24 October 2012
CULTURAL CHANGE FOR DEMENTIA
Museums to make a difference in challenge on dementia
National Museums Liverpool is launching a pioneering project aimed at making a real
difference to people living with dementia, their carers and families.
In line with the National Dementia Strategy and the Prime Minister's subsequent Challenge on
Dementia 2012, National Museums Liverpool has developed the House of Memories project,
which offers unique and innovating training to help people living with the condition.
You are invited to send a reporter, photographer or camera crew to the Museum of
Liverpool on Wednesday 24 October for interview opportunities at 12:30pm and a
chance to experience the training at 1:15pm. Available for interview:
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Course participants
Carol Rogers, Executive Director of Education and Communities
With three years' worth of funding support from Liverpool Primary Care Trust’s dallas project,
House of Memories gives people in Merseyside working in sectors supporting those living with
dementia, the opportunity to take part in practical and interactive training in a museum setting.
Carol Rogers, Executive Director of Education and Communities at National Museums
Liverpool said: “It's estimated that more than 800,000 people are currently living with dementia
in the UK, and 550,000 people are acting as primary carers. More action is needed nationally to
understand how we can support people living with dementia.
“National Museums Liverpool has over a decade of experience working with older people and
has taken up the Prime Minster’s Challenge, and it's working.”
With its world class collections providing the basis for training, the popular Museum of Liverpool
on the city’s waterfront will represent a 'House of Memories'.
Using a setting in the heart of the community, House of Memories offers a tool kit to carers,
which is based on the fantastic objects, archives and stories at the Museum of Liverpool. The
training gives carers the skills to inform their practice and the resources to carry out memory
activities in work settings, and improve the quality of life for the people living with dementia.
Contact Lucy Cattell - Media Officer
e lucy.cattell@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk t 0151 478 4615 f 0151 478 4777
National Museums Liverpool,127 Dale Street, Liverpool L2 2JH
w liverpoolmuseums.org.uk
Follow the Museum of Liverpool online:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/museumliverpool
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/museumofliverpool/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/museumofliverpool
Web: http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/
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24 October 2012
Professor Phil Redmond CBE, Chairman of National Museums Liverpool said: “House of
Memories shows the value of the cultural sector working effectively with the health and social
care sector to tackle society's understanding of dementia. It's an opportunity to get people
thinking differently, and by understanding the benefits of cultural engagement, people can use
art and culture to improve both their work and the lives of those living with dementia.”
National Museums Liverpool piloted the scheme earlier this year with the local dementia
community and more than 1,200 health and social carers took part. An independent evaluation
of the project revealed it had a profound impact on participants, increasing their awareness and
understanding of dementia and helping them to understand those living with the condition.
Those who took part were encouraged to explore the collections of the Museum of Liverpool
and to learn how to positively engage and communicate with people living with dementia, by
using objects and memorabilia from the Museum, which were relevant to people's personal
histories.
Lorraine Weaver, Manager of Hinderton Mount Residential Home in Neston said: “My staff are
completely different following this training. The way we go about our work caring for residents
living with dementia is transformed. House of Memories really struck a chord that left us
thinking about it for weeks. We’re still thinking about it now, months on.”
The training, which will now continue, is practical and interactive, partnering with AFTA Thought
training consultants who use drama to present factual information about dementia and help
participants to understand the experience of living with dementia, being a family carer or care
worker. The Museum has also developed memory box and memory walk sessions to help
participants integrate the training and new resources into their day to day interactions with
people living with dementia.
Andy Hull, Director of Stakeholder Engagement at Liverpool Primary Care Trust said: “We
know that the programme is giving real, practical help to so many families affected by dementia
and are proud of our great partnership with National Museums Liverpool. We wholeheartedly
support the continuation of the fantastic training that the House of Memories project provides.”
For further information on House of Memories and course dates please email
learning@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk or call 0151 478 4240.
www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/houseofmemories
Contact Lucy Cattell - Media Officer
e lucy.cattell@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk t 0151 478 4615 f 0151 478 4777
National Museums Liverpool,127 Dale Street, Liverpool L2 2JH
w liverpoolmuseums.org.uk
Follow the Museum of Liverpool online:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/museumliverpool
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/museumofliverpool/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/museumofliverpool
Web: http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/
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24 October 2012
Notes to editors
The Museum of Liverpool is the largest newly-built national museum in Britain for more than a century,
demonstrating Liverpool’s unique contribution to the world. It is the first national museum devoted to the history of
a regional city.
The Museum of Liverpool has received generous support from several major funders, along with grants from trusts
and foundations, corporate support and individual donations. Major funders include the Northwest Regional
Development Agency (NWDA), The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Heritage Lottery Fund
(HLF) and the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS).
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) was responsible for the sustainable economic
development and regeneration of England’s Northwest and had five key priorities: Business, Skills and Education,
People and Jobs, Infrastructure and Quality of Life.
The European Development Fund (ERDF) is making a real difference to people and businesses in the North
West. With €755 million to invest between 2007 and 2013, ERDF is enhancing the competitiveness of the region’s
economy by supporting growth in enterprise and employment. ERDF in the North West is managed by the
Department for Communities and Local Government – for further information visit www.communities.gov.uk/erdf.
Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a
wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums,
parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our
diverse heritage. HLF has supported more than 30,000 projects allocating £4.5billion across the UK.
www.hlf.org.uk
About National Museums Liverpool
National Museums Liverpool comprises eight venues. Our collections are among the most important and varied in
Europe and contain everything from Impressionist paintings and rare beetles to a lifejacket from the Titanic. We
attract more than 3 million visitors every year. Our venues are the Museum of Liverpool, World Museum, the
Walker Art Gallery, Merseyside Maritime Museum, International Slavery Museum, UK Border Agency National
Museum, Sudley House and the Lady Lever Art Gallery.
dallas (delivering assisted living lifestyles at scale) is a national programme aimed at:
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transforming the lives of people by developing and using innovative technology products, systems and
services to improve well-being and increase independence;
positioning “UK plc.” as the world leader in tele-care and tele-health products
The dallas programme (delivering assisted living lifestyles at scale) is exploring ways of using innovative products,
systems and services to create more independent lifestyles and will help hundreds of thousands of people by
summer 2015. dallas has tasked four consortia with running this programme with communities throughout the UK.
The consortia have been awarded £25 million of government money, to which they’ve added their own financial
contributions. The programme has been developed by the UK’s innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board
and joint funded by the National Institute for Health Research and the Scottish Government. For further information
on the Technology Strategy Board and dallas programme, visit www.innovateuk.org and
www.connect.innovateuk.org
The Technology Strategy Board is the UK’s innovation agency. Its goal is to accelerate economic growth by
stimulating and supporting business-led innovation. Sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and
Skills (BIS), the Technology Strategy Board brings together business, research and the public sector, supporting
and accelerating the development of innovative products and services to meet market needs, tackle major societal
challenges and help build the future economy www.innovateuk.org
Contact Lucy Cattell - Media Officer
e lucy.cattell@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk t 0151 478 4615 f 0151 478 4777
National Museums Liverpool,127 Dale Street, Liverpool L2 2JH
w liverpoolmuseums.org.uk
Follow the Museum of Liverpool online:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/museumliverpool
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/museumofliverpool/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/museumofliverpool
Web: http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/