Caring cops make dementia history

Clued up Blenheim police officers have become the first in New Zealand to undergo official training to help assist dementia patients.

Blenheim Police are now the first in the country to receive a dementia friendly award.

And officers say the experience has already helped achieve positive results in the community.

Senior Community Constable Russ Smith says his team has had lots of experience with people living with dementia.

"Before we started our ‘Working to be Dementia Friendly’ journey, we were simply working from experience and doing the best we knew how to help resolve these situations.

“As police, my team and I have had lots of encounters and experiences with people living with dementia,” says Russell.

“While many of these incidents have not strictly met the criteria for crime, we are often called because the caller, or others who become embroiled in the situation, need assistance and don’t know who else to call.

The project aims to ensure people with dementia can be active and engaged community members, for as long as possible, by creating communities that support them to do so.

The Alzheimers NZ’s Dementia Friendly Recognition Programme is for businesses and organisations that want to ensure they are as ‘dementia friendly’ as possible.

Local facilitator Diane Tolley contacted the police to see if they would be keen to learn more.

Diane says local Police popped up when she and her team were thinking about groups of staff who often encounter people with dementia and who could benefit from training.

The training delivers effective, practical information and allows the trainees to have greater insights into how dementia presents in a person living with the condition, and how best to interact with them.

Russell says the positive results of the course have already been seen.

“Since our dementia training, we have enjoyed some very positive outcomes involving those living with the condition, as a result of our increased understanding, and our ability to interact more effectively.

“Since then, we have had a number of interactions with people living with dementia and have enjoyed some very positive outcomes as a result of our increased understanding of dementia, and our ability to interact more effectively. I highly recommend it.”

Blenheim police joins Blenheim New World, Marlborough District Library and Picton Library and Service Centre Waitohi Whare Mātauranga who became the first dementia friendly libraries in NZ last year.

Interested in becoming a Dementia Friendly business or organisation? Get in touch on [email protected]