Dementia day a real success

John’s Campaign event hailed

A Coatbridge man was among the speakers as NHS Lanarkshire hosted the first national conference on John’s Campaign, which aims to improve care for people with dementia.

Stewart Black was diagnosed with vascular dementia seven years ago, aged just 51.

The former aeronautical engineer said: “Dementia comes in many forms and isn’t just something older people get.

“Our carers are our rock, and it’s vital that they are given respect and support – as our journey with dementia is theirs too, in more ways that anyone will ever understand.”

Now rolled out at all of Lanarkshire’s hospitals, John’s Campaign supports people with dementia by allowing their carers to stay with them on wards, ensuring there are familiar faces nearby.

It was launched after the death of Dr John Gerrard – who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in his mid 70s – by his daughter Nicci and her friend, Julia Jones.

Ms Jones was in attendance at the Lanarkshire conference, and said: “It was humbling to think that the single small change for which Nicci and I campaign could be so comprehensively and professionally implemented and affect the lives of others in a way that is so inexpressibly profound.”

Senior nurses and staff from health and care providers from around Scotland also attended the event.

Gillian McAuley, chief of nursing services at Wishaw General, the first in Scotland to implement John’s campaign, said: “The event provided attendees with information and the opportunity to make pledges on behalf of their organisation.

“We had the pleasure of having presentations from a number of people with dementia, relatives and clinical staff, and also had the privilege of hearing Julia Jones speak about her journey.”

Dementia comes in many forms and isn’t just something older people get

Smiles Stewart, right, with fellow speaker Zaria Sleith, Wishaw General chief of nursing services Gillian McAuley, John’s Campaign co-founder Julia Jones and Alzheimer Scotland representative Lorna Hart