Spotlight on condition

As part of Dementia Awareness Week dozens of events took place across west Kent to help educate people about the condition.

The Alzheimer’s Society initiative ran from May 15 to May 21 and saw thousands donate to help fight the condition and undergo training to become Dementia Friends.

At the society’s headquarters in Dairy Lane, Linton, staff and volunteers got together for an open day on Wednesday with members of the public learning about life with dementia.

Meanwhile work was being finished in the garden of Age UK’S Goodman Centre, in Mill Street, Maidstone. The centre is the first in the UK to be fully redesigned as part of the National Lottery funded Living Through Landscapes project which seeks to improve outside settings for people who have dementia.

Nine gardens will be opened this year, while nationally 30 will be redesigned as part of the three-year project.

Anna Johnson, from the scheme, said: “We are trying to increase the amount of time spent outside and are doing a lot of work around getting those who have dementia out and about. It’s also about improving the quality of time spent outside and maximising the stimulating and therapeutic benefits of plants and wildlife. It was great to see so many people enjoying the space and reminiscing about their own gardens.”