Positive Approach to Care®
Dementia Care Isn't Just a Job: It's a Vocation
At Dementia Training UK, we believe dementia care is more than a service; it's a calling shaped by experience, heart and the Positive Approach to Care®.
Dementia Training Rooted in Real Experience and Compassion
We know that every family faces unique challenges on the dementia journey and our mission is to give you the confidence and practical tools to care with compassion, connection and understanding. Our person-centred philosophy means we go beyond theory. We're here not just as dementia care specialists but as real people who've walked this road ourselves.
Founder Marion Harrington is neither an academic nor a clinician but she is somebody with nearly two decades of experience professionally and personally working with people who live with dementia, doing the same job that you are. She knows what works and what doesn't.
Contact her here to arrange dementia care training for yourself, your community group or company.
About the Founder of Dementia Training UK
I'm Marion Harrington, founder of Dementia Training UK, a UK-based PAC™ certified and licensed dementia educator and lifelong carer. My journey isn't just professional, it's personal. Before running groups and workshops, I supported individuals and families through challenging days, collaborating alongside them in hospitals, care homes and private residences throughout the UK and Spain.
Much of my work as a dementia care specialist has been about bringing calm, reliability and a bit of humour where it's needed most. Colleagues came to me for guidance, new carers found a supportive buddy and overwhelmed families found an understanding ear. What did I learn? Real change comes from training that's grounded in day-to-day realities, delivered with warmth, not just facts.
That's why Dementia Training UK exists: to share proven methods, like the Positive Approach to Care® and the unique insights only lived experience brings. Here, training is practical, supportive and packed with the know-how to help you connect and care better.
What Makes My Dementia Training Different
At Dementia Training UK, we don't teach theory from a textbook; we teach what works in real life. As certified dementia care specialists, our methods are hands-on, practical and designed to empower families and care partners with useful, actionable skills. We regularly see reduced falls, lower reliance on medication and notably improved quality of life for those living with dementia.
Because we keep one foot in the real world, not just the classroom, we ensure all our training is rooted in experience. Our approach combines the Positive Approach to Care®, insights from the SPECAL® method at the Contented Dementia Trust and Naomi Feil's Validation Therapy so that every session offers real benefit, never just a tick-box exercise.
Our workshops and individual coaching blend empathy, humour and practical guidance, covering communication strategies, confidence-building for families and carers and step-by-step help for challenging times. When you train with Dementia Training UK, you're getting a person-centred dementia expert who appreciates that care is more of an art than a science; as much about heart as skill.
Qualifications That Support the Heart
Joining a Dementia Training UK support group means you'll have friendly faces and experienced trainers by your side, every step of the way. Our experience and training as dementia care specialists ensure the best possible support for every family. Here's what you can expect:
- Level 3 NVQ in Dementia Awareness
- PAC (Positive Approach to Care®) Certified and Licensed Independent Dementia Educator (PAC-CDE/L)
- Level 3 Award in Education and Training
- Advanced End-of-Life Care for People with Dementia (University of East Anglia)
- Specialist training in advanced dementia programmes (The Good Care Group)
- Years of hands-on work, understanding that the right care changes lives
Certified by PAC™
PAC Certified Independent Dementia Educators and Trainers are not employees of Positive Approach, LLC. The opinions and views expressed by PAC Certified Dementia Educators and Trainers do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of Positive Approach, LLC or any of its employees. Positive Approach, LLC is not liable for any actions by PAC Certified individuals.
Disclaimer of Liability: The information and material provided by Dementia Training UK during consultations is not medical advice and should not be relied on as such. Dementia Training UK is not responsible for the actions of an individual who acts by relying on the information provided. Clients should use their own discretion in using and implementing the information that they receive in any consultations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What experience does Marion Harrington have in dementia care?
Marion Harrington has nearly two decades of hands-on experience supporting individuals and families living with dementia in the UK and Spain across a variety of care environments. She combines professional expertise with her own personal journey as a dementia care specialist.
What qualifications support your dementia care training?
Marion holds a NVQ Level 3 Award in Dementia Awareness, PAC™ Independent Dementia Educator Certification and License (PAC-CDE/L), NVQ Level 3 Award in Education and Training, Certificate of Advanced End-of-Life Care for People with Dementia and specialist training in advanced dementia programmes from the Good Care Group London Limited (ADAPT)
What is the Positive Approach to Care®?
Positive Approach to Care® is an evidenced based, person-centred philosophy developed by American dementia care expert Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA. The practical care strategies and techniques that she teaches integrate what is known about brain function and the changes that happen with various conditions.
What is the SPECAL method?
The SPECAL® method from the UK based Contented Dementia Trust is a person centred dementia management and communication model. It teaches carers how to work with the changes in an individual's memory with the aim of maintaining emotional well-being and reducing anxiety.
Why did you start Dementia Training UK?
Marion founded Dementia Training UK to share her knowledge and lived experience when she identified that an increasing number of family carers like her Mum were accepting the challenge of caring for a loved one but not being offered any practical skills training. She also realised that community groups, while wanting to welcome individuals living with dementia, were unsure how best to support them and help them integrate.
Do you still work directly with people living with dementia?
Yes - from time to time Marion still continues to provide live-in care to families. She's sat through too many tick box training sessions in her career where the training offered was purely knowledge based with very limited practical application in real life situations. Marion's determined to keep one foot on the frontline for as long as she's able so that what she offers with Dementia Training UK is grounded and an effective practical alternative to academic theory - the opposite of death by Powerpoint!
Let's Connect
If our approach resonates, we'd love to help. Take the next step with Dementia Training UK, connect with a team that truly understands and cares. Contact us today: