Evolve Care Group Explores Creative Ways to Create Connection in Dementia Care

Evolve Care Group recently welcomed team members from across its homes and Central Support office to their Evolve Care Academy in Bristol for training sessions exploring how meaningful connections can be built with people living with a Dementia and other cognitive conditions.

The sessions, titled Seen, Heard, Valued, form part of Evolve’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their role, develops an understanding of the people living within their homes and the approaches used to support them.

Team members working across care, kitchen, domestic, maintenance, administration and Central Support regularly attend training at the Evolve Care Academy, recognising that everyone contributes to the environment that family members (residents) call home.

Communications Assistant Ayla Melville attended one of the recent sessions to gain a deeper understanding of the principles that underpin Evolve’s approach to care.

Throughout the day, attendees took part in practical exercises designed to encourage them to think differently about communication and connection, particularly when supporting people who may find it difficult to express themselves.

The session also explored how cognitive conditions and Dementias can affect communication, memory, decision making and emotional regulation.

Clinical Head Eve Carder explained that asking multiple direct questions to some people can sometimes leave them feeling confused or overwhelmed, making it more difficult for them to engage. Instead, the training encouraged attendees to find creative ways to "change the moment", adapting their approach to build trust and meaningful connection.

Reflecting on the experience, Ayla explained that hearing real experiences shared by team members helped bring the learning to life and provided valuable context for the stories she tells through her communications role.

The Seen, Heard, Valued sessions are one of many courses delivered through the Evolve Care Academy, which provides ongoing online and in-person learning and development for team members across Evolve Care Group.

To read Ayla's full account of the training experience, visit:

Changing the Moment to Create Connection.

For more information about the learning and development delivered by Evolve Care Academy, visit https://www.evolvecareacademy.com/