Dementia Action Week 2024: helping people to live well with dementia
This week is Dementia Action Week and local organisations across Coventry and Warwickshire have come together to raise awareness of the disease and the support available.
This year’s theme for Dementia Action Week is all about taking action to improve dementia diagnosis rates and serves as a reminder that we need to ensure those with dementia are getting the support they need.
In partnership with other local organisations, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT) supported patients with a recent dementia diagnosis at the Next Steps Fair at the Coventry Community Dementia Hub.
The Coventry Community Dementia Hub was opened in 2023 and offers a supportive space for people living with dementia as well as their carers. The Hub was co-produced with patients living with dementia and a variety of local organisations, to provide more comprehensive support to people living with dementia.
The Next Steps Fair was an opportunity for people recently diagnosed with dementia and their cares/family to find out about the services and local support available. It also offered a chance for people to have a chat with others who are in similar situations or just grab some refreshments. The fair included stalls from CWPT’s Dementia and Memory Assessment Service, Dementia Connect, Admiral Nurses and many more organisations, and was just one example of initiatives taking place across May to support people to live well with dementia!
Anne Patterson, CWPT’s Operational Place Manager for Dementia and Older People, said: “Dementia Action Week has some great events that highlight lots of ways that people living with dementia can be supported to live well. These include events at the Community Dementia Hub in Coventry, which is a very useful resource for people living with dementia and their carers.”
April Ross, Service Manager at the Coventry Dementia Hub said: “Dementia Action Week is an opportunity to remind people of the services available to those pre and post diagnosis. Dementia has a huge impact not only on those diagnosed with it but their loved ones too. I encourage anyone who has a question or concern to pop into the hub and seek support from the very friendly team that works at the Dementia Hub.”
Tim Kindred, Dementia Local Service Manager at the Alzheimer’s Society, Coventry, said: “This year, Dementia Action Week will run from 13 to 19 May 2024 and the theme is diagnosis. It will shine a light upon the issue that a third of people living with dementia do not have a diagnosis. If you’re worried about yourself, or someone close to you, then know what to look out for using our symptom checklist. Additionally, you can share your diagnosis experiences with us, so we can show decision makers the realities and issues people are facing.”
Cllr Linda Bigham, Cabinet Member, Adult Services, said: “So many of us are impacted by Dementia and the Hub is a wonderful venue for people to meet and find support and kindness. That’s why the partnership work between agencies in the city is so important.
“We’ll beat Dementia eventually, but until then, we need to do all we can in building relationships, friendships, partnerships but most of all, show our love and support.”
Dementia can be daunting, but you're not alone. Whether you’ve had a new diagnosis of dementia, care for someone with dementia or are worried about memory loss, support is available to help you live well with dementia. Coventry residents can drop by the Coventry Community Dementia Hub during its opening hours to look at what support is available. For those outside of Coventry, general information and support can be found on the Alzheimer’s website and CWPT’s Dementia and Memory Assessment Service and Community Dementia Services can be accessed via a GP referral.