Dementia Action Week - May 2024
Between 13-19 May, join Age UK Hereford & Worcestershire and The Hive to mark Dementia Action Week with a variety of events, activities and an exhibition intended to educate, raise awareness and decrease stigma around dementia.
See the Person, Not the Dementia exhibition
Monday 13 - Sunday 19 May
This powerful exhibition created with Age UK Hereford & Worcestershire clients aims not only to highlight the impact of dementia on individuals but to also offer a poignant glimpse into its profound effects on families and the broader community. Through art, they hope to unveil the many aspects of dementia, demonstrating the resilience, creativity and stories of those affected, their loved ones and the community at large.
The charity hopes that launching the exhibition will highlight the importance of seeing past the label of 'dementia' to see the individual, help spread further awareness of dementia and enable everybody to honour the resilience of those impacted, helping to shape more compassion around the subject within the local community.
Monday 13 May:
An Introduction to Age UK Hereford & Worcestershire Dementia Services
11am-12pm, Meeting Room 3 on Level 2
Join this friendly information session with Helen Whatmore from Age UK Herefordshire & Worcestershire Dementia Wellbeing Services to find out what services are available for people living with dementia.
No booking required, just drop in.
Doing Things with Dementia: Exploring Support to Keep People Connected
12pm-1pm, Meeting Room 3 on Level 2
Dementia research in the news is nearly always about finding a cure, but just as important is how we can support the nearly 1 million people (and growing) who are living with dementia right now. While a diagnosis of dementia is life changing, people can still live full and active lives with the condition - but support in the community needs to be better. Thomas Morton, Research Associate with the University of Worcester's Association for Dementia Studies, will talk about their work to improve this situation,, including initiatives like Meeting Centres that aim to connect people to their communities and each other. He will talk about what Meeting Centres are, who can go and what people do there, as well as the wider research that the Association for Dementia Studies does – and opportunities for people to get involved!
Age UK Hereford & Worcestershire Drop-in Sessions
10:30am-4pm, Atrium
An opportunity to talk to friendly Age UK Hereford & Worcestershire staff about their services and find out about meeting centres, dementia cafes, group outings and more.
No booking required, just drop in.
Tuesday 14 May:
Author Talk and Q&A: Behind The Cover with Dr Chris Russell, Karen Gray and Jane Twigg
10:30am-12pm, Studio
Leisure and Everyday Life with Dementia is a book which examines leisure in the everyday lives of people living with dementia and challenges readers to consider the role of leisure activities beyond their potential for therapeutic benefit.
Dr Russell leads the Post Graduate Certificate in Dementia Studies at the Association for Dementia Studies at the University of Worcester. He is the Patient and Public Involvement Lead for the 'Get Real with Meeting Centres' research project hosted by the Association for Dementia Studies and a Dementia Knowledge Exchange Peer Reviewer with the World Health Organization. He also runs a popular 'Championing Physical Activity for People Affected by Dementia' course.
We will also be talking to some of Age UK Herefordshire & Worcestershire’s inspirational dementia members who will be sharing their lived experiences with Dementia and what leisure activities mean to them.
How to Make Your Home Dementia Friendly
1:30pm-2:30pm, Meeting Room 2 on Level 2
In this session, Teresa Atkinson from the University of Worcester's Association for Dementia Studies will be looking at how dementia and the physical environment interact. You’ll learn about some of the symptoms of dementia and the impact these can have, before exploring how dementia friendly design can help. The session will cover the principles of dementia friendly environments, helping you to be more aware of your surroundings, before focusing on changes that can be made within the home and also within the garden. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions and get information about useful resources.
Wednesday 15 May:
Age UK Hereford & Worcestershire Young Onset Dementia Cafe
2pm-4pm, Studio
Led by Age UK Hereford & Worcestershire, this FREE monthly group offers specialised activities and opportunities to socialise for people living with young onset dementia. Carers and loved ones are also very welcome to attend. This session includes an appearance from Dancefit with Laura Bonell, a Freelance Dance Practitioner specialising in dance for people over 55 in Worcestershire. Dance to music through the decades and try a variety of dance styles in a fun and relaxed atmosphere and meet some new friends. The sessions is low impact to look after joints while keeping the body and brain active.
Thursday 16 May:
Carers' Information Session: Introduction to Admiral Nursing
10am-11am and 11am-12pm, Meeting Room 2 on Level 2
Join Admiral Nurses in this light and informal session to find out what they do, how the service works, what type of support they offer to people living with dementia as well as how you can make contact with them.
This session includes time for questions so you can find out all the information you need.
Carers' Information Session: Worcestershire Association of Carers
1pm-2pm and 2pm-3pm, Meeting Room 2 on Level 2
Join Worcestershire Association of Carers to learn about Worcestershire Carer Hub. This is the one stop shop for advice, information and guidance for adult unpaid carers in the county.
Age UK Hereford & Worcestershire Drop-in Sessions
10am-3pm, Atrium
An opportunity to talk to friendly Age UK Hereford & Worcestershire staff about their services and find out about meeting centres, dementia cafes, group outings and more.
No booking required, just drop in.
Friday 17 May:
Ensuring Your Business is Dementia Friendly
9:30am-11am and 11am-12:30pm, Meeting Room 2 on Level 2
Join Colin Hanley, lead trainer at Age UK Herefordshire & Worcestershire to find out how you can make your business dementia friendly. In this session, Colin will help you:
- Understand Dementia and its impact
- Recognize common behaviors associated with dementia
- Practice effective communication
- Adapt services and facilities to meet the needs of individuals with dementia
- Gain insights into community resources and support networks available
