Dementia project earns praise from AM for raising awareness
A PROJECT that aims to raise awareness of the needs of people with dementia has been praised.
Assembly Member Suzy Davies says the Dementia Villages project, which covers Kenfig Hill, Pyle, Cefn Cribwr, Cornelly and Mawdlam, is doing vital work in helping people understand how those with dementia are affected.
Mrs Davies spoke to Louise Barham and Margaret Griffiths who run the scheme. They are offering Dementia Friendly sessions to local businesses and individuals to raise understanding of the condition.
The AM visited Theo’s charity shop in Kenfig Hill, where some of the staff are Dementia Friends and others are aiming for the title in the new year.
Louise said: “These sessions only last about 45 minutes and we have had a number of people from local shops and businesses attend.
“We hope to stage one every two months in 2019 but we know that this is not a finite project – it will never come to an end because there will always be more people wanting to undergo these sessions.”
Margaret said the longer-term aim is to create a pool of Dementia Friends in each of the villages and from there, train up some of them to become Dementia Champions who are able to conduct the information sessions.
Suzy also visited the Kind Regards Greetings Cards shop in Waunbant Road which is run by Jane and Paul Hughes. They both intend to become Dementia Friends in the new year.
Jane said: “A number of our customers are elderly so we want to understand how they are affected by everyday things and events.”
Suzy said: “I have done the training to become a dementia friend myself. It was very simple but a complete eye-opener. This scheme is important for the community and if those who work in shops and other businesses are able to offer help to people who have dementia, then it’s win-win.
“I am very impressed with what Margaret, Louise and others locally are doing. Louise runs the Memory Lane dementia café each Friday morning at Pyle Life Centre which gives people in the early stages of dementia a place to go and meet others and also provides some companionship for their carers.
“The Alzheimer’s Society is to be commended for the effort it is putting into this area but without these volunteers it would founder. I would urge everyone to support this by becoming Dementia Friends and also working with the steering group.”