Tide member Frank Arrojo Lifetime Achievement nomination at National Dementia Care Awards 2019
[av_textblock size='' font_color='' color='' custom_class='' admin_preview_bg='']
Tide member Frank Arrojo Lifetime Achievement nomination at National Dementia Care Awards 2019
Tide – together in dementia everyday is delighted to announce that Frank Arrojo, carer member of tide has been selected for the final for the Lifetime Achievement Award category in the National Dementia Care Awards 2019.
As a former carer and expert by experience, it is fantastic that Frank is one of the finalists for this prestigious award because he has dedicated his life to improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers not only here and now but for the longer term. Frank was a career civil servant when his mother developed dementia. Frank changed his working patterns so that he could help his mother, then later gave up work and moved in with her to become her primary carer. Following his mother’s death Frank wanted to ensure that other carers had a better experience than him and set up local carers support groups in NW London, and became a Trustee of Brent Carers Centre.
Frank’s willingness to share his experience whilst encouraging professionals to improve their practice led him to be involved with various national initiatives including the Triangle of Care which was jointly led by Carers Trust and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). He has been a trusted representative of tide on the Dementia Friendly Hospitals Taskforce ensuring the voice of carers is paramount. He has been a relentless campaigner on carers rights and seeking better recognition for carers support, educating health and social services professionals, researchers and others on what daily life is really like living with a person with dementia, helping organisations such as Dementia UK, National Dementia Action Alliance (NDAA), Alzheimer's Society and Brent Carers Centre, and helping with the ongoing development of tide (together in dementia everyday).
Frank said: “I was somewhat surprised and humbled when I found out about my nomination for the Lifetime Achievement Award. In one way or another I have been affected by dementia since my late 20s, but I honestly do not know where I would be today if it was not for the support I received from an Admiral Nurse who encouraged me to talk about my story in pursuit of actual recognition of what families and friends affected by dementia experience.
It has been a privilege to get to know so many people both affected by - and working in the field of - dementia. I know I could not have done this without the support of so many people.
Finally I would like to make a special mention for the carers and former carers I have had the pleasure to get to know, and especially those I have met via the Sudbury and Wembley Dementia Carers Support Groups I run. They provided comfort and support to me when my mum died, and what I did not appreciate at the time was how invaluable their stories and their experiences would become in the pursuit of seeking to improve not just their lives but the lives of everyone affected by dementia. I share this nomination with each and everyone one of them."
Jean Tottie, Chair of tide said “There are 700,000 unpaid carers of people with dementia, making up 44% of the dementia workforce and saving the UK economy an estimated £11.6 billion per year. Carers do not choose this role; it is not five days a week 9am to 5pm; it is 24/7 with many carers doing this role over between 10 to 15 years or more, but at what cost to themselves as individuals. I am so delighted that Frank is a finalist for the Lifetime Achievement in Dementia Care award. A more deserving individual would be hard to find as he has dedicated many years to work voluntarily to improve the lives of all those affected by dementia and particularly family carers after drawing on his own experience".
Anne-Marie Morris, Chief Executive Officer of Brent Carers Centre said “We are so very thrilled and pleased to hear that Frank Arrojo has been nominated for the ‘Lifetime Achievement in Dementia Care’ award. Frank is the epitome of an ‘Expert by Experience’ using the challenges he faced as a dementia carer to deliver helpful and effective support directly to dementia carers around Brent, as well as contributing strategically both locally and nationally. He is a renowned and powerful speaker, and as a former trustee of Brent Carers Centre has shown immense dedication and commitment to improving support to dementia carers and carers in general. As someone who has genuinely spent his life improving support to dementia carers, as a result of his own struggles, I can think of no better person most deserving of this award! Congratulations on the nomination and the very best of luck! ”
Winners of the National Dementia Care Awards will be presented with their trophies at the high profile Gala Night held on Thursday 7th November at Doncaster Racecourse attended by over 400 guests.
About the Awards:
The National Dementia Care Awards is an annual event organised by The Journal of Dementia Care, a multidisciplinary journal for all professional staff working with people with dementia, in hospitals, nursing and residential care homes, day units and the community. The awards were created to recognise the very best people in the dementia care sector, whose exceptional work and contributions make better, person-centred care a reality. There were 16 categories to enter overall and there were four or five finalists in each category. All finalists will meet with two independent judges for each category on 11th October at the Awards’ Judging Day at the Hilton London Metropole. For more information and all categories, please visit
https://careinfo.org/award/dementiacareawards/
[/av_textblock]
Back to news posts