15/05/2014 - Permalink

Support and advice at hand at Dementia Awareness Day event in Shrewsbury

Related topics: Community / Health / Partner organisations

Local and national dementia services around Shropshire and the UK will be on hand to give advice and support at a Dementia Awareness Day event in Shrewsbury.

Hosted by Shropshire Council’s public health team and Alzheimer’s Society, the free event will be held at Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery on Friday 23 May 2014 between 10am and 3.30pm.

The special event is in support of Dementia Awareness Week, and coincides with the national Dementia Friends Campaign which aims to raise awareness of dementia and encourage as many people as possible to become a ‘Dementia Friend’.

The event will bring together many local and national dementia service providers under one roof so that members of the public, dementia patients, families, professionals, and anyone who is interested in the condition can come and speak to a variety of people about the condition and any ask questions they may have.  Some of the organisations who will be at the event include Alzheimer’s Society, Shropshire Council, health services, care home providers plus many more.

The day will also consist of a variety of interactive sessions and specialised advice clinics from a range of organisations.  Taster sessions will be taking place on the day, which include:

  • Cognitive stimulation
  • Lasting Powers of Attorney and advance directives
  • Singing for the Brain
  • Dementia Friends information sessions

Shropshire Council is a member of the Dementia Action Alliance, a movement with one simple aim: to bring about a society-wide response to dementia.  It encourages and supports communities and organisations across England to take practical actions to enable people to live well with dementia and reduce the risk of costly crisis intervention.

Karen Calder, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health, said:

“Dementia is a hugely important issue in Shropshire.  One in three of us over the age of 65 will develop dementia; an incredibly high statistic.  As a member of the Dementia Action Alliance, Shropshire Council is extremely committed to improving the lives of individuals living with dementia, and their carers, and to create a more ‘Dementia Friendly’ county.

“I would encourage as many people as possible to come along to the Dementia Awareness Day event, to find out more about the support available, and to become a ‘Dementia Friend’.”

Dianne Beaumont, Services Manager at Shropshire Alzheimer’s Society, added:

“People with dementia can live well, and it is the responsibility of the rest of the community to help them do so.  The Dementia Awareness Day event will highlight how we can support those with the condition and their carers by ensuring they get access to the right information and advice.

“Dementia Awareness Day is a free event open to all who wish to attend.  The event is free and open to all.  There is no need to book for the main event, just turn up and one of our friendly volunteers will show you where you need to go, and explain where everything can be found.”

People will be able to book a place on a Dementia Friends Information Session, attend a legal advice session, receive business assistance with Dementia Action Alliance applications, and attend a sample session with the Alzheimer Society’s Singing for the Brain group.

For more information about the event and to book your place on one of our sessions visit http://www.dementiaday.co.uk/.

For more information about Dementia Awareness Week visit http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/remembertheperson.

For information about the national Dementia-Friendly Campaign and to watch the video on how to become a Dementia Friend visit www.dementiafriends.org.uk.

For more information about Dementia support in Shropshire click here.

Further information

A link to Shropshire Council’s Dementia Action Alliance action plan can be found at www.dementiaaction.org.uk/members_and_action_plans/1356-shropshire_council.