Dementia Information Session to be held in Newtownards as part of Dementia Action Week (13-19 May)
Ards and North Down Borough Council, in conjunction with South Eastern Dementia Friendly Partnership, has launched plans for Dementia Action Week (13-19 May), with a Dementia Information Session to be held in Newtownards in May.
The ‘Action Week’ is a national event that encourages people to take action to improve the lives of people affected by dementia.
As part of the week, the Council will host a Dementia Information Session from 10am until midday at Ards Arts Centre on Tuesday 14 May.
The session will be open to the public and will bring a range of organisations together who will provide information on benefits, support services and connections available within the Ards and North Down area. Pre-registration is essential.
The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Jennifer Gilmour, said: “Council Officers have been working with the South Eastern Dementia Friendly Partnership to develop plans for Dementia Action Week that will help to raise awareness of dementia and the support services available within the Borough.
“Becoming ‘Dementia Friendly’ is a key commitment of the Council and is incorporated within the Community Plan and Age Friendly Strategy and Action Plan.
“There are over 20,000 people living with dementia across Northern Ireland, many of whom live in our Borough, and Age UK’s statistics suggest this could rise to 60,000 by 2050.”
In addition to hosting a public Dementia Information Session, the Council is continuing to offer frontline staff the opportunity to attend dementia awareness sessions facilitated by Alzheimer’s Society.
The sessions will help staff understand more about dementia and how they can recognise and assist someone living with dementia in their role.
Through the Newtownards Chamber of Trade, local retailers in Newtownards are being encouraged to help raise awareness within the community about dementia.
Each participating retailer will display the forget-me-not flowers and a poster in their window, while leaflets with information about dementia and the support services on offer will be available in store.
To register for the Dementia Information Session on 14 May, email:
agefriendly@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk
or call 07741 103277 (Monday to Friday, before 5pm).
For more details, visit:
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A dementia-friendly community is a city, town or village where people living with dementia are understood, respected and supported.
It is a community where people will be aware of and understand dementia, so that people living with dementia can continue to live in the way they want to and in the community they choose.
