City raises awareness of dementia with Action Week of events

People are being encouraged to join in with a series of events being held in Wolverhampton to mark Dementia Action Week next week.

Dementia affects nearly a million people in the UK, including approximately 3,600 in Wolverhampton. Dementia Action Week, organised by the Alzheimer’s Society, is an opportunity to raise awareness of the help and support available to people in Wolverhampton living with dementia and their families.

A series of activities are taking place throughout the week, beginning on Monday (16 May) when Dr Karan Jutlla, the Dementia Lead from University of Wolverhampton and a member of the Wolverhampton Dementia Action Alliance, will be discussing diagnosis in South Asian communities and taking part in a live question and answer session on Gulshan Radio.

Compton Care will have an information stand at its Retail Plus store in the city centre from Monday to Wednesday (16 to 18 May), and is holding a Dementia Friends session for the general public at its Living Well Hub at the same venue on Tuesday (17 May) from 10.30am-11.30am.

The City of Wolverhampton Council's Carer Support and Community Support teams will be hosting a pop up information stand with Memory Matters and the Alzheimer's Society at Central Library on Tuesday (17 May) from 10-11.30am, while Dementia UK and the Admiral Nurses are inviting people to make Time for a Cuppa at Khalsa FC, Aspray Arena, Noose Lane, Willenhall, WV13 3BB on Thursday 19 May from 10am-3pm.

Age UK will host an information stand at the Mander Centre on Thursday and Saturday, 19 and 21 May, from 12.30-3.30pm on both days, and the Alzheimer's Society is holding a Dementia Cafe at Bantock Park on Thursday 19 May from 1-3pm.

Twenty people living with dementia will be taken on a backstage tour of Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre on Friday 20 May, while its NANT Memory Tour – which is visiting 40 residential homes that specialise in dementia care – will treat the residents of Foxland Grange and Waterside House to free entertainment with Miss Beth Belle.

Officers from the council's Public Protection Team will be raising awareness of how to spot scams in sessions for a Bowel Cancer Support Group and members of the Swanmore Centre in Bradmore, and will be attending the World Culture Day being held at the YMCA City Gateway in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society on Saturday 22 May.

The Dementia Action Week programme concludes with a dementia-awareness themed service at Gloucester Street Church of God of Prophecy organised by the African Caribbean Community Initiative on Sunday 22 May from 11am, including a display at its Heritage Centre on Clifford Street.

The full timetable is available at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/dementia. For more details about individual activities, please contact the organisations directly.

The Dementia Action Week programme is being coordinated by Wolverhampton Dementia Action Alliance and the council. Councillor Linda Leach, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: "As a city we are proud to hold Dementia Friendly Community status and Dementia Action Week is an opportunity to showcase the many services available to support people living with this debilitating condition, and their families and friends.

"We would also like to encourage more people in Wolverhampton to become a Dementia Friend so you better understand the needs of people living with dementia and can do your bit to help them. You can do this either by joining the Dementia Friends session organised by Compton Care, or by visiting www.dementiafriends.org.uk.” 

People who are worried about dementia can contact the Alzheimer's Society for information and support either via the National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122 or by visiting www.alzheimers.org.uk. For more information about the help and support available locally, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/dementia.

The Alzheimer's Society has granted Wolverhampton Dementia Friendly Community Status after recognising the work members of the Wolverhampton Dementia Action Alliance are doing to improve services for people living with dementia, and their families and carers.

It defines a Dementia Friendly Community as one where people living with dementia feel included and involved, have choice and control over their daily lives and are supported to contribute to the local community. It is also a place where other people are aware of dementia and understand the needs of people living with the condition.

For more details of Wolverhampton Dementia Action Alliance, please visit www.dementiaaction.org.uk. To join Wolverhampton Dementia Action Alliance please contact susan.eagle@wolverhampton.gov.uk