A person Like me
‘A Person Like Me’ is a campaign within social care designed to eliminate some of the barriers between people with dementia and those who care for them either personally or professionally. We aim to encourage the recognition of commonalities in personhood, which helps with the development of empathy in care. We aim to motivate carers (professionals or family) to focus on the similarities we share with the people we care for, rather than the differences.
The dual-faced images used as part of this campaign are designed to reflect the ethos of this work. We all have differences, but essentially, we are all human;
“You are a Person Like Me”
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Caring for John Jenkins
SUPPORTING STAFF
This website aims to support staff working in social care (care homes and community) to provide human-rights based care for people living with dementia. It also welcomes the families and loved ones of people who are living with dementia, who may like to access the forums for supportive discussion and information.
CARING FOR CARERS
It is important that those who care for people with dementia are also aware of our own personhood; the qualities that make us an individual. We need to be aware of what motivates or inspires us. Equally it is imperative that we can identify the things that make us feel discouraged or unhappy. Self-awareness and self-care are crucial to being able to effectively care for another person with dignity, respect and compassion. Hence, ‘caring for the carers’ and promoting self- care will be notable factors in what we share with you here.
“We need to be able to nurture, value and respect ourselves. If we can’t do that for ourselves we will struggle to do it for others”
HUMAN RIGHTS
As human beings we are all entitled to ‘human rights’. The Human Rights Act (1998) legislation outlines 16 fundamental human rights that are based on principles and values such as dignity, respect, autonomy, equality and fairness. Having a cognitive impairment, like any disability, does not disqualify a person from human rights.
However, the presence of dementia may threaten a person’s human rights. This is because an individual who is further along in their journey with dementia may not be able to adequately express their needs or choices or advocate for themselves when something is unfair.
Assumptions are sometimes made about an individual’s ability to make decisions for themselves. This is why a human-rights based approach to care and essential knowlege of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) is important.
Acknowledgements
Katy Perkins
Put simply and truthfully, Katy was a beautiful person. She worked as a Senior Quality Support Officer within the school of healthcare sciences at Cardiff University. Katy was very well known, well respected and very well loved by every person who knew her. She always seemed to have a beautiful smile on her face and kind words to offer. She had an amazing sense of humour. She laughed a lot and made others laugh and smile too.
Katy happily agreed to take part in ‘A Person Like Me’ by having her photo taken for our posters, agenda and banners. Although she herself did not have dementia, she wanted to help with anything that would improve the lives of others. Her image was put together with her colleague and office buddy Miriam Rodrigues. In response to this photo she emailed:
“Oh my goodness Lesley. That’s amazing. Gosh, how different are we? Age. Hair. Eye. I’d never really noticed before. Wow!”
I agreed. But I also said I felt the differences in the two complemented one another. This resonated well with the ethos of this campaign; about recognising the differences but honouring the similarities.
I am so grateful to Katy not just for her help with this, but for being such a positive influence in the world. She was a special kind of person and the perfect person for this campaign as she was someone who embodied kindness, helpfulness and positivity.
Sadly, Katy passed away in November 2020. Thank you to Katy’s family for consenting to us to continue using her image on this website and poster. They felt this is what she would want. They wish to honour her choices and we wish to honour Katy. This is what we are all about with this campaign of human rights; honouring people and respecting choices. Thank you Katy. Rest in peace beautiful lady.
CONTRIBUTIONS
I would like the thank my friends and colleagues who have contributed to the first part of the research and dissemination component of ‘A Person Like Me’.
Nigel Hullah, Andy Woodhead, Shelagh Robinson and Hilary Doxford – who are part of the 3 Nations Dementia Working Group. Thank you so much for enhancing our understanding by sharing your experiences of living with dementia. Thanks for imparting your expertise to me, to our students and to our colleagues in social care. We could never have done this without you. You are giving a voice to those with dementia who are unable to express themselves.
Mike Johnson – Thank you for your positivity, wisdom, consistent encouragement and also for helping with the research by allowing us to use your image for the posters, supporting the webinar and advising on the poster presentation. Thanks also for your fabulous acting and videography skills for the films ‘My Dad’ and ‘Lost Child’.
Sally Anstey – Thank you for being a wonderful mentor and guide throughout the ethics submission process and for all your encouragement.
Katie Featherstone – Thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom, research, your vision and experience of dementia. You are an inspiration.
Teena Clouston – Thank you for your advice, guidance and encouragement and for helping with the thematic analysis of the focus group data.
Sofia Vougioukalou – thank you for your support in facilitating one of the focus groups and for your wider support in sharing information throughout the civic mission work.
Jan Campsie, Jane Mullins, Rebecca Cisero, Madeline Young, Helen Langford – Thank you for facilitating a focus group that has had a huge impact on our understanding of the barriers and facilitators to upholding human rights for people living with dementia in care homes.
Lindsay John Scandrett – thank you for not only your treasured friendship over the past 16 years but also for sharing your personal experience in a very raw and honest way. Thank you also for composing the music ‘On the Tip of my tongue’ and sonic scores for the film ‘Lost Child’. These were composed in dedication to your late mother who was living with dementia.
Joanne Owen – Thank you for your support and moulage talents during the filming and photography. You have supported this project from the very beginning.
Peter Smith – thank you for your videography skills and for all your support in the simulation suite in preparation for the films.
Catherine Dunn, Ricky Hellyar, Anthony Pritchard, Sue Simms, Stephen Scott and Cathryn Smith – thank you for the time you gave to the filming of ‘My Dad’ and ‘Lost Child’. Your acting skills are very much appreciated.
Thanks to all who volunteered for the campaign photo shoot: Mirium Rodrigues, Nelson Selvaraj, Mike Johnson, Jan Campsie, Carl Campsie, Valeria Peebles, Hywel Cornwall, Emma Jones, Dominic Roche, Nicole Mateer, Sara Tennant. Not all photographs were used for marketing purposes, but we value your interest and time in being part of this.
FundED BY HEFCW
I would like to thank HEFCW (Higher Education Funding Council for Wales) for sponsoring this work, of which will continue to support professionals and the public to gain a better understanding of human-rights based dementia care.
