Podcasts

Sandra Blades is a member of the RCN Older People’s Forum Committee and together with three of her colleagues in South Tees area in the Northeast of England, they have recorded conversations about the community approach to dementia care.

Podcast 1 - Jade Lavan, Admiral Nurse, explains her role in the formation of a dementia care steering group.

Speaker biography
Jade was an Admiral Nurse from January 2022 - January 2024, covering the South Tees area, supporting carers and their loved ones living with dementia through a community / clinic model. Her dedication, commitment and collaborative working was recognised in April 2023 when she was awarded a South Tees Healthwatch Star award in ‘Excelling In Supporting Others’. Jade is now the director of Lavan Dementia Care Services which offers specialist dementia care day services, independent specialist dementia nurse service, training and education and care consultancy.

 

Podcast 2 - Marie Kerr, Project Development Officer for Dementia Action Teesside, explains the formation of dementia friendly communities.

Speaker biography
Marie Kerr is the Project Development Manager at Dementia Action Teesside. After completing her degree in Law , Marie went onto volunteer at Citizens Advice whilst studying for her master’s in law. Her interest in dementia came after her father’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease and the journey she shared with her mother in caring for him as the condition progressed. The firsthand experience of difficulties with care led Marie on to a new role with Age UK Teesside as a befriending coordinator for a project to give carers a break in Redcar & Cleveland. Marie’s mother then had a stroke and was later diagnosed with dementia. With lived experience of how dementia affects individuals, families and the community, Marie was thrilled to take up the role of Project Development Manager with Dementia Action Teesside with a continued commitment to help everyone live well with dementia.

 

Podcast 3 - Susan Lee, Primary Care Coordinator for Teesside Mind, outlines carers' rights when looking after a loved one with dementia.

Speaker biography
Susan has a wide experience in the NHS with starting her State Registered Nurse training in 1976. Susan followed the career of Dame Cicely Sauders founder of St Christophers Hospice the pioneer in the field of palliative medicine with great interest. Through a partnership with Macmillan Care, Teesside Hospice and the NHS and she became one of the first Macmillan Nurses in North Tees Health Trust providing both education to healthcare staff as well as providing community based palliative care to patients of all ages for 9 years. Susan’s present role is Primary Care Co-ordinator with Teesside Mind. The aim is to offer support to all the local GP practices in South Tees to be more carer friendly.