Borough’s solidarity over dementia

TO MARK Dementia Week, groups in the borough will be setting up information stalls in addition to their regular support services. Vicky Howell-Jones,dementia coordinator for Wokingham, and her colleague Sue Young dementia friendly coordinator for West Berkshire, have liaised with borough charities and groups that support people with the condition, and their families.

A number of dementia friendly organisations will be manning stalls, ready to explain services that are available to people, during national Dementia Week.

Vicky Howell-Jones, said: “Dementia Week is an opportunity to come together in solidarity.

“There’s a lot of support out there in the borough for people with the condition, and their families.

“It can be very confusing when a diagnosis is received, or when things change.

“It’s important for individuals and families to know that they are not alone.

“We hope that all sorts of people at different stages of the condition will come and find out more.”

Contributing to the campaign are: Places Leisure, Young People with Dementia, The Home Care People, Miriam Grace, The Link, Involve, Right At Home, Understanding Dementia, WBC-Tech Enablement, and the Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA). Other contributors are: Home Instead, Wokingham Borough Council, Wade Day Centre, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue, Age UK Berkshire, Memory Clinic, Optalis, Wokingham Library, Wokingham in Need, and Acacia Home Care. Dementia Action Week is an awareness raising campaign that encourages individuals and organisations to ‘act on dementia’. This year it takes place from Monday, May 13 May, through to Sunday, May 19. The Wokingham based Young People With Dementia Harmony choir will be singing in two borough town centres during the week.. At both locations, visitors will find stalls with information on where to access support and activities. To find out more, and to hear the choir sing, people should make their way to: Peach Place, Wokingham, on Tuesday, May 14, at 10.30am, and Woodley Town Centre, on Thursday, May 15, at 11am. ■ For more information about the campaign, visit: www.alzheimers.org.uk

Picture: Remi Walle via Unsplash HELP: People can find out what activities and support are available, at two borough events in Wokingham and Woodley, during Dementia Week.