Dementia affects nearly a million people in the UK, including approximately 3,600 in Wolverhampton.
Dementia Action Week, organised by the Alzheimer’s Society and supported by the City of Wolverhampton Council and other members of Wolverhampton Dementia Action Alliance, is an opportunity to raise awareness of the help and support available to people living with dementia, and their families and carers.
A series of activities are taking place throughout the week. The Alzheimer's Society will have information stands at the Mander Centre Health Hub, opposite Ryman, today (Monday 15 May) and Friday (19 May) from 9am to 5pm and at New Cross Hospital on Thursday (18 May) from 9am to 3pm, while the Admiral Nurses, and members of Wolverhampton's Carer Support Team, Community Support Team and Memory Assessment Team will be on hand to speak to shoppers at the Health Hub on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Memory Matters will be holding sessions on Wednesday (17 May) from 10am to 2pm and Thursday (18 May) from 2pm to 4pm for people to phone in for help and advice around their memory concerns, or those of someone they care for. Please call 01902 553445.
Meanwhile the African Caribbean Community Initiative will be holding an information session, with lunch and entertainment, at the ACCI Heritage Centre, Clifford Street Wolverhampton, on Thursday (18 May) from 11am to 3pm. To book a place, call 01902 571230 or email carers@acci.org.uk.
Members of the council's Public Protection service will be on hand with police, Admiral Nurses and the NHS Memory Assessment Team to speak to shoppers about how to spot scams. They will be available at Bilston Indoor Market on Thursday (18 May) and Wednesfield Outdoor Market on Friday (19 May), from 10am to noon on both days.
There will also be training sessions for frontline professionals who work with people living with dementia throughout the week.
Jon Crockett, Chair of Wolverhampton Dementia Action Alliance, said: "Dementia Action Week once again demonstrates the range of organisations across the city who are out there making a difference for those people living with dementia and their family and carers.
"I’m proud of all those people who are putting on special events across Wolverhampton which will help people to understand more about dementia and what they can do help people to live well with dementia. The commitment of everyone in the Dementia Action Alliance and the City of Wolverhampton Council remains to make Wolverhampton a dementia friendly city and Dementia Action Week gives us the opportunity to showcase the many organisations who are working hard to make that ambition a reality."
Councillor Linda Leach, the council's Cabinet Member for Adults, added: "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 online by visiting Dementia Friends.”
People who are worried about dementia can contact the Alzheimer's Society for information and support either via the National Dementia Helpline on 0333 150 3456 or by visiting Alzheimer's Society. For more information about the help and support available locally, please visit Dementia.
The Dementia Action Alliance brings together a range of local organisations which want to make Wolverhampton more dementia friendly, including businesses, emergency services, religious groups and education providers. For more information, please visit Dementia Action Alliance.
