A friend in need

Dental nurse Heleena Winteridge has been at Thurlow Dental & Facial Aesthetics in Horton Heath, Eastleigh in Hampshire since 2005. As clinic manager, she is responsible for the overall clinical operation of the practice. Last month, Heleena and the practice's patient coordinator, Louise Tate, were invited to nearby Orchard Gardens care home at Bishopstoke Park to attend a course hosted by Dementia Friends to learn about the changing the way people think about dementia.

Heleena explains: ‘My father-in-law had dementia and we had to watch and deal with the family's upset coping with a loved one and the distress of dealing with dementia. The distress of him not recognising his family, the ‘out of character’ behaviour, the strange habits and the heartache of no longer being able to cope with him in his marital home where he had lived in for 50 years was tough. These are just a few things that a family has to deal with and the support needed – and an understanding of dementia – would have been easier to bear if I had known about Dementia Friend years ago.’