Dementia group is launched
Stirling Council Provost Christine Simpson has spoken of losing her mother to dementia – as she recognised those helping tackle the condition in Dunblane.
The civic leader attended the Dementia Friendly Dunblane community launch at the town’s Victoria Halls on Saturday evening.
Provost Simpson presented Dementia Friendly Awards to a number of local businesses and also handed certificates to big-hearted volunteers who help people battling dementia at the Braeport Memory Café.
Dementia has now overtaken heart disease as Britain’s biggest killer and there are an estimated 1,650 people living with dementia in the Stirling Council area. That figure is expected to double over the next 20 years.
And Provost Simpson knows the heartache a family feels over losing a loved-one to the brain disease.
She said:“My mother battled dementia for a year before her death, so I’m all too aware of the challenges that people living with dementia and their families face.”
Estimates suggest dementia costs the UK £26.3billion in unpaid care, health care, state social care, individual social care and other costs.
Stirling Council, as part of the Health and Social Care Partnership, currently spends around £4.25million on dementia. This includes £3million on long term residential and nursing care.
The Council contributes a further £333,000 for short term or respite care and £862,000 on helping people diagnosed with or suspected of having dementia with care at home services.
There are 12 independent care homes in the Stirling Council area delivering care to residents with dementia. That includes four with dedicated Elderly Mentally Infirm (EMI) units.
The council’s community planning and regeneration committee pledged £100,000 to Dementia Friendly Stirling earlier this year.
King’s Park, in Stirling became Scotland’s first ever dementia friendly park in June. Work carried out by Paths For All saw changes to signage, new benches and a handrail added to a steep path section installed to help people with the condition to enjoy the park.
Councillors will attend a Dementia Friends session organised by charity Alzheimer’s Scotland on Monday and a report on dementia care will be discussed at the full council meeting nextThursday.
Provost Simpson added:“The sad thing is that there is still such a stigma over dementia. It used to be the same with cancer.
“The more we talk about it and raise awareness, the more chance there will be of one day finding a cure. It also helps other families going through dementia know that they are not alone. That is why I am fully behind Stirling Council supporting the important work community groups like Dementia Friendly Dunblane do.”
Dementia Friendly Dunblane also receives funding from the Life Changes Trust, which is part of the Big Lottery Fund.
Co-ordinator Breda Seaman said:“We are pleased with the support we’ve had from the community and local businesses to help make Dunblane dementia friendly.
“We are grateful for the support we receive from Stirling Council and it was great that the Provost was able to present these awards to recognise the important work that is being done in this area.”