On April 29th, Vamos was invited to run a Listening with your Eyes workshop in Leominster with the aim of engaging members of the community, as well as professionals, in good care.
Listening with your Eyes is a workshop devised to show the importance of empathy, body language and tone of voice in the care of older people, particularly those living with dementia. Participants at the sell-out workshop in dementia-friendly Leominster came from a whole range of backgrounds, including carers, nurses, primary school receptionists, bus drivers for vulnerable people, and two local vicars - everybody with their own personal and professional interest in caring for people living with dementia.
For Rachael Savage, who ran the workshop, it was particularly enjoyable to meet the course co-ordinator, Rita Graham - who had been activity coordinator on Vamos’s first ever pilot project to care homes five years ago. Rachael commented, ‘Boy, we did giggle about the mistakes we made that day and the journey we have been on since, touring to care homes all over the country. I really hope that we can build on this workshop to create future partnerships for our work next year with care homes, carers, health professionals and all people interested in listening....with their eyes of course.’
Feedback from participants was very positive, Lisa Woakes described the workshop as, ‘thoroughly entertaining and engaging ... the best delivered training I have had – ever.’
Thank you to all the participants who came to the workshop and in particular to Rita. Vamos would also like to thank the University of Worcester for arranging the session, and Alzheimer’s Society for making it possible through their funding – we look forward to future partnerships.