Events have been held across the country to mark Dementia Awareness Week 2016, which is set to conclude on Saturday 21st May.
Events have been held across the country to mark Dementia Awareness Week 2016, which is set to conclude on Saturday 21st May.
It is estimated that approximately 850,000 people in the UK currently have dementia, with projected numbers rising to 1m by 2025.
Local communities across the UK have held events to help raise awareness. St. Helens increased recruitment of ‘dementia friends’ volunteers as part of the awareness drive. Almost 8,000 people have now signed up to the initiative, which aims to educate people about the reality of living with dementia, and give them practical tips to help people with the condition.
Hereford County Hospital held regular sessions throughout the week. Patients and visitors could discuss the condition openly with relevant staff members, and learn how to enhance quality of life for those with dementia.
In Wigan, as well as a new sensory garden, 100 posters were put up across the borough to inform residents about Guardian Angel devices. These small, blue devices are used by hundreds of dementia patients in the area, and can be mounted to wristbands, keyrings, badges and tags. If a person wearing the device is found in a state of confusion, the device can be swiped with a smartphone to display the contact details of the carer and/or next of kin.
Celebrities, including Dame Judi Dench and X-Factor winner Danyl Johnson, have also been involved in the initiative, visiting and performing for dementia patients.
Fiona Lowry, our CEO, said: “Too many people don’t yet know how to access the information they need to understand what it’s like to live with the condition, or how the lives of people with dementia can be enhanced. This is what Dementia Awareness Week is all about. At The Good Care Group, we use research from national bodies, as well as our own findings, to consistently improve care standards for our live-in care clients. This helps them to live safely in a familiar environment with a developed support network. Our research has even been used to better orientate national dementia care policies.”
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