WARRINGTON’S Golden Gates Housing Trust residents and staff have been busy organising and attending a series of events to mark Dementia Awareness Week.
The Trust became a “Dementia Friendly” service provider and employer earlier this year and the events have helped the Trust achieve its initial target of creating 50 new “Dementia Friends”.
Dementia Awareness Week was all about opening up – and organisers wanted anyone who is concerned about dementia to talk to somebody about it.
During the week GGHT held a “Dementia Learning Lunch,” which was attended by 25 members of staff, including chief executive Peter Mercer and chairman Roy Smith.
Staff heard from one of Warrington Borough Council’s “Dementia Champions”, Andrea Muirhead, who delivered a short presentation on the five key dementia messages, organised a dementia bingo game and talked about people’s perception of dementia.
Bob and Sylvia Kahn, who are local residents, also spoke to staff about living well with dementia and their personal experience of the disease and the difference it has made to their lives. The event gave staff a much deeper understanding of the disease and how they can support residents living with it in the local community.
Later, a “Positive about dementia Tea Dance” was held for residents, with more than 30 attending.
Activities included dementia tombola, speeches by people who have been affected by the disease and dancing to 40s style music, along with afternoon tea and cakes.
The informal and fun afternoon session aimed at giving residents the skills and knowledge to be able to understand dementia and raise awareness within their own communities.
Representatives from the Alzheimer’s Society were on hand to give advice and information and highlighted some of the services available for people with dementia in Warrington. They were also able to answer a number of questions people had about dementia.
Jo Hawkins, operations manager for Alzheimer’s Society in Cheshire, said: “We would like to thank Golden Gates Housing Trust for all their support this Dementia Awareness Week. We want anyone who is concerned about dementia to not bottle it up and talk to us. We are here to help, support and advise. Plaese call our National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122.”
Picture: GGHT residents and staff at the tea dance.
