SPECAL is a UK charitable organisation based in Burford, Oxfordshire. The charity delivers an innovative approach to the care of people with dementia, offering a different and successful way of managing the disease for both the person with dementia and their family.
(Picture shows: (L-R) Christine Doey, Kate Sturgess, Marguerite Hassett and Penny Garner.)
With the money raised by IPC, SPECAL will be able to fund training in care homes which have been chosen by families developing SPECAL care for their relative. It will also complete a documentary-style film to raise awareness of the positive SPECAL message.
Penny Garner, founding director of SPECAL, says: “We are all absolutely thrilled to be chosen as IPC’s Charity of the Year for 2011. This is such good news for families facing dementia, who can now learn about the possibility of lifelong well-being in spite of the diagnosis. With the number of people affected by dementia at an all time high, IPC has chosen a most opportune moment to support SPECAL and spread our positive message.”
Marguerite Hassett, who works for IPC, nominated SPECAL and championed it for the company’s charity of the year 2011. Marguerite says: "This partnership will provide a great opportunity to raise awareness of dementia and particularly the great work that SPECAL does in enabling people with this disease, and their families, to enjoy a good quality of life.”
“I look forward to working with editorial teams and individuals alike in 2011 to support this important charity."
SPECAL provides a range of courses, services, advice and information to promote the lifelong well-being for people with dementia. Core to these courses is the concept of the SPECAL Photograph Album, a unique way of explaining how normal memory works, what happens as we grow older and the specific change which occurs with dementia. The SPECAL Photograph Album concept explains how lifelong well-being can be achieved.
