Gaelic conversation dementia initiative

Lewis Presbytery of the Church of Scotland has praised an unique scheme which gets Gaelic-speaking dementia residents and children chatting together.

Crossreach, the social care arm of the Church of Scotland, has won the Best Innovation in Continuing Care category for the initiative at this year’s Scotland’s Dementia Awards.

The project is an intergenerational Gaelic partnership between Cameron House care home in Inverness, run by Crossreach, and Inverness Gaelic School.

It gives Gaelic-speaking dementia residents the opportunity to have conversations with the participating childrenwhich helps increase the residents' sense of well-being and gives greater connection with their community through sharing memories and skills.

A spokesman from Lewis Presbytery they were “delighted that Crossreach has been nationally recognised to be at the very forefront of dementia care in Scotland and that the Gaelic language should play such a pivotal role in the award winning project.”

Praise for Gaelic conversation dementia initiative

18 November 2014

Crossreach is the largest Third Sector charity in Scotland with an annual budget in excess of £51 million.

Scotland’s Dementia Awards provide an opportunity for professionals and communities, who are committed to enhancing the health, well-being and experience of people with Dementia and their families, to have their work recognised and promoted.

The award scheme showcases the creativity, innovation and dedication impacting the daily lives of people with dementia and their families and aims to demonstrate clearly how, across Scotland, policy is being sustainably put into best shared practice.