It is the aim of the Alzheimer’s Society to enable Newport to make their mark on the map in Telford & Wrekin, and to become the first Dementia Friendly Community Town, with the help of local businesses, organisations, schools and local groups and the support of the local Dementia Action Alliance this could soon become a reality.
Already working in the Town and surrounding areas are Dementia Support Workers Mike Sadler, Caroline Beddow & Claire Richards, they are supporting people who have a diagnosis of any form of Dementia and their carers with a home visiting service offering advice, information and guidance, knowledge and understanding of diagnosis and Dementia, support in living well with tips and techniques to help cope on a daily basis, they provide emotional support, legal & financial information and help reduce social stigmas and isolation for people with Dementia and their families.
They work in collaboration with other agencies making sure that people can access services easily to match their individual needs. They facilitate groups and activities on a regular basis including a Peer Support Group in Newport, Singing for the Brain, Carers Support Group, a Dementia Café, and a Cognitive Stimulation & Carers Support Programme.
Some of our clients in Newport have feedback to us the following comments. “When my husband was in hospital recently the help from the Dementia support worker was so readily given and I can’t tell you how much it helped me when I needed it most”. “It’s the highlight of my week, meeting up with friends who we met through this group; please keep it going as it has helped me”. “First class group, we really enjoy it and the support of the other members and volunteers is invaluable”.
This coming March with the support of Newport Cricket Club Caroline will be delivering four weekly sessions of a Carers Information Support Programme for family carers in the area of people with Dementia; this is supported nationally by Lloyds Bank, helped locally by our branch in Newport with Bank Manager Deborah Sutherland and her team raising much needed funds with cake sales and Tea &Tinsel events.
During Dementia Awareness Week last year, the Alzheimer’s Society yearly campaign Card n Play, Age UK, Waitrose, and Newport Council Offices hosted a display of information for the public of Newport to access, which resulted in many people contacting our office, the National Help line and Dementia Friends.
Many of Newport High Street Business were visited by a Dementia Support Worker and were provided with “How to help People with Dementia” a guide for customer-facing staff or the booklet “5 things to know about Dementia”, this was to help Newport businesses and their staff to develop an understanding of dementia to influence the person with dementia’s experience to be a positive one, providing a thoughtful, helpful service can make such a difference to someone who may ordinarily feel vulnerable in the town.
The feedback we got from many of the businesses was that they would like to know more, to help build up a supportive experience for people in our community living with Dementia and to get involved with becoming more Dementia Aware.
With the Alzheimer’s Society initiative Dementia Friends, Newport and surrounding area residents can register on line to become a friend or if there is a local group or organisation we can deliver Dementia Friend sessions and awareness talks, those locally who have already benefited from these talks are Newport Bowling Club, Lilleshall Golf Club Ladies section and the Newport Ladies Inner Wheel who have supported the work of the Alzheimer’s Society as their charity of the year.
Local Singer and Newport resident Trudy Grant sang her heart out to raise funds with the support of her well known mum Mal Grant for Alzheimer’s as they had personal family experience and recognised at that time there wasn’t any support available and what a difference Dementia support workers make today.
Alison Walker Principle of Dance Connection School in town held a fund raising Ball supporting Alzheimer’s.
You may ask why Newport needs to become Dementia Aware, well the prevalence in on the increase and in the UK there are over 850,000 people with Dementia and it is estimated to be 670,000 family and friends acting as carers, two thirds of people are living in the community, while one third are living in care homes, The prevalence in Newport is on the increase so let’s help those living in our community to live well with Dementia, let’s make that small difference to make a big difference to those affected.
Five things you should know about Dementia
1. Dementia is not a natural part of ageing 2. Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain 3. It’s not just about losing your memory 4. It’s possible to live well with dementia 5. There’s more to a person than the dementia.
So our work at the Society continues, supporting residents in Newport, surrounding villages and all of Telford & Wrekin, if you are worried about your memory, have a diagnosis of any form of Dementia, if you are a family carer, a group or organisation, a business or service in town, a school or a local club and you would like help, support or guidance please contact us on 01952 583875 or 01952 583813 or email...
caroline.beddow@alzheimers.org.uk, michael.sadler@alzheimers.org.uk or claire.richards@alzheimers.org.uk
National Dementia Help line 03002 221122 or visit our website www.alzheimers.org.uk
