At Rowanbrook, our mission is to deliver a superior level of care for adults living with complex behavioural needs due to dementia. We recognise that dementia is a challenging condition that changes the people we know and love and deserves the very best support; one where individuals are surrounded by people who can bring comfort, calm distressing behaviours, and ensure life remains meaningful, joyful, and full of connection. 

To deliver on this commitment, we make sure we receive additional training from experts and surround ourselves with people who go above and beyond. We are honoured to work with Deena Heaney MBE, a multi-award-winning dementia specialist recognised for her services to dementia care. Deena’s expertise provides the essential training and guidance that continually elevates our standards and refines our approach to care. 

The Power of Knowing the Person 

Deena’s focus is deeply rooted in person-centred care. This begins with meticulous life story work, ensuring our team truly knows the individual, not just the diagnosis. This understanding is key to unlocking meaningful interactions, which Deena teaches us must be the responsibility of everyone in the team, not just the Activities Coordinator. This includes effective communication, offering engaging activities, and ensuring every staff member recognises and supports efforts to minimise distress. 

Her guidance has been instrumental in several key areas: 

• Environmental Enhancements: Supporting the home with practical changes to optimise a resident’s wellbeing. 

• Bespoke Training: Developing a suite of customised training modules specifically for our team. 

• Practice & Reflection: Using Dementia Care Mapping and reflective practice sessions to consistently enhance the quality of our care delivery. 

This ensures our team is expertly trained in core areas: person-centred approaches, effective communication strategies, understanding different types of dementia, and recognising and minimising distress.