Swindon supporting Dementia Action Week
Two special events are taking place next week to raise awareness of dementia and to improve the lives of those affected by it.
Published: Thursday, 12th May 2022
Swindon Dementia Action Alliance - a group of local businesses and organisations - has organised dementia-related activities to raise awareness, develop understanding and to make Swindon a more dementia-friendly community.
The events have been planned to coincide with the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Action Week, which takes place between Monday, 16 and Friday, 20 May.
Swindon has been accredited by the Alzheimer’s Society as ‘Working Towards a Dementia Friendly Community’ since 2018 which is supported by Swindon Borough Council.
The aim is to encourage communities to ‘Act on Dementia’. The events in Swindon are intended to provide a safe space for people living with dementia and their loved ones, allowing them to meet like-minded people and access the support and resources that they need.
On Monday (16 May) between 10.30am and 12.30pm at Central Library there will be a Dementia Action Week Expo taking place.
There will be opportunities to meet local business and organisations who support people living with dementia, their carers and loved ones. Swindon Carers Centre, Home Instead, Alzheimer’s Society and The Herbert Protocol, a national information-pooling scheme, will all have stands in the Regent Circus library.
People can also get involved by attending an information session run by the Dementia Friends. The session starts at 11am and will provide an insight into what it is like to live with dementia and how that understanding can be turned into action to support people in the community living with the condition.
Later in the week on Thursday (19 May) a tea dance will take place at MECA in Regent Circus and has proved so popular it is now fully booked.
Attendees will enjoy an afternoon of live entertainment at the free event alongside lots of tea, coffee and cake!
Councillor Brian Ford, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, said: “We know the pandemic has had a major impact on people living with dementia and their carers, so it’s great to see these events taking place to highlight the support available in Swindon.
“It is also a chance to bring people with dementia and carers together for an afternoon social event. We are immensely proud to be part of the Swindon Dementia Action Alliance, helping these events and activities happen for our residents.”
Toby Kirk, Chair of the Dementia Action Alliance and Business development manager at Home Instead Swindon and Vale of White Horse, one of the many local businesses involved, said: “As dementia is an issue so ingrained in our everyday lives at Home Instead, we are passionate about spreading awareness of dementia and helping those families and friends affected by the disease.
“We are proud to be helping the Swindon Dementia Action Alliance in their mission to make our community more dementia-friendly.”