Andrew Cowen B.A

Over a period of 7 years, Andrew Cowen looked after various family members with Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, terminal cancer, severe arthritis and spinal and shoulder injuries.

During this period Andrew Cowen was acutely aware of the absence of professional training to help him understand the medical condition and the impact this would have on the individual and the family.

Andrew Cowen was fortunate in being able to attend all the Alzheimer’s professional training course that took place across the country.

The experience Andrew Cowen gained liaising with the the Social Services, nursing and care homes, coordinating individual care packages and reviews, led Anrew Cowen to form his own domiciliary care company: Caring Sharing & Company Ltd. which specialises in live-in/live-out care and dementia support.

Prior to becoming a professional carer Andrew Cowen was a dancer at the London Contemporary Dance Theatre, a professional photographer, a multi-media producer/director and an IBM marketing manager.

 

Summary of Training/Workshops & Events - please see the "Andrew Cowen Links" section for further information on each of the subjects.

 

Quality care begins with quality training. “Had I known then, what I know now!” hindsight is all too familiar. From personal experience, we are acutely aware of the general lack of good training for professionals as well as informal family carers and relatives that is accessible, time sensitive and more importantly - relevant.

We aim to bridge this gap by offering intensive training courses that have an impact and make a tremendous difference to the quality of life of professionals the service user and informal family carers and their relatives, as well as other health care professionals e.g. charities out-reach workers, social services, PCT staff, care homes, day care centres and domiciliary care support agencies.

Each event is tailored to meet the varying needs of either professionals or family carers. In mixed groups of professional and family carers, we consciously capitalise on the richness of information each party can bring to bear, as viewed from either side of the fence. This is very rewarding, especially sharing coping strategies as seen from different perspectives.

Reminiscence & Life History Development Training
This is an essential part of providing a person-centred approach to care planning and maintaining quality of life for the elderly and mentally or physically frail. A Reminiscence & Life History development can be rewarding and stimulating for professional carers, families or as a mixed group project.

Ageing & Dementia Strategies Training
Designed to support and equip professionals and family carers looking after a person with dementia, this training provides an insight into the ageing process and how dementia can impact upon it. This understanding is crucial for developing coping strategies and person-centred care planning. This course is eligible for funding from Skill4Care.

Dementia Care for professionals, care workers and families
Drawing on the Alzheimer's Society accredited professional training programme entitled "Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow", this 8-part programme, aimed at family carers and/or professionals, delivers a short, sharp but detailed overview of aging, dementia and behavioural coping strategies. It is intensive and comprehensive and is designed to offer practical solutions, and suggestions including the use of video and observation exercises.

Professional Accreditation - Dementia Care
The training provides a professional overview of dementia. The key messages delivered through the training are that care workers should try to see the world from the point of view of the person with dementia, understand how they may feel and what they may want. Through this understanding, care workers can respond more effectively and provide better quality care. This training is also compliant with Skills for Care funding.

Meaningful Activities for the Elderly and those with Dementi...
The training focuses on the many and varied ways we can stimulate and improve the lives of elderly people, as well as those with dementia or a disability. We explore the benefits, ideas and the potential of 'meaningful' activity while going about doing everyday tasks, and adapting activities to meet a variety of mixed abilities, culture, gender and religious diversity opportunities of all those taking part.

The Impact and Combined effect of Trauma Coupled with Dement...
The training looks at the impact of a past trauma on a person with dementia, such as those who have been abused or who are WWII / holocaust survivors.
It is essential that those attending this course have a good understanding of the ageing process, dementia, life history and reminiscence work.

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