WARRINGTON residents are being invited to visit the town centre Living Well Hub for a “Making Connections” event on Tuesday ( May 20) as part of Dementia Action Week.
The week, which aims to encourage people to act on dementia, takes place from May 19 to 25.
This year the focus is on diagnosis and raising awareness on the most common symptoms of dementia.
Warrington Speak Up, in collaboration with the Living Well Hub, will be hosting a dementia event on Tuesday from 10am until 4pm.
The team will be outside the Living Well Hub on Horsemarket Street, encouraging people to pop into the hub to speak with professionals about the symptoms and preventive steps.
Residents can also take part in dementia awareness games, receive information and resources, and take part in a ‘dementia friends’ training session. A talk by local consultant psychiatrist, Dr Rashmi Jain, will take place at 10.30am, with the training session taking place at 1pm.
Dementia is a general term used for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. It can affect people’s memory, thinking, language and behaviour.
Symptoms may include problems with:
• memory loss
• thinking speed
• mental sharpness and quickness
• language, such as using words incorrectly, or trouble speaking
• understanding
• judgement
• mood
• movement
• difficulties doing daily activities
Although there is currently no cure for dementia, an early diagnosis means its progress can be slowed down in some cases.
It’s normal for your memory to be affected by stress, tiredness, certain illnesses and medicines but if you are becoming increasingly forgetful, particularly if you are over the age of 65, it’s a good idea to talk to a GP about the early signs of dementia.
You can help reduce your risk of dementia by keeping socially active and doing activities which provide cognitive stimulation, such as puzzles and having a healthy lifestyle. Some steps you can take to help decrease the risk are:
• Keep socially active
• Drink less alcohol
• Stop smoking
• Be more active
• Have regular hearing checks
• Eat well and maintain a healthy weight
• Educate yourself on dementia and the risk factors
• Get your eyes tested
• Know your blood pressure and cholesterol Level – High blood pressure and high cholesterol increases your risk
Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, the borough council’s cabinet member for health, wellbeing and social care, said: “This will be a valuable event if you or someone you care for has been diagnosed with dementia, or if you want to find out more about the symptoms and preventive steps. The team will be able to provide you with advice and guidance and get you involved in the dementia awareness games and training sessions.
“I would also encourage people aged 40 to 74 to make use of a free NHS health check. This check-up of your overall health is offered every five years and can help find early signs which show if you’re at higher risk of certain health problems that can also increase your risk of dementia. If you’re over 65, you’ll be told the signs and symptoms of dementia to look out for.”
To find out more about dementia, the symptoms, and prevention and risk factors associated with it, visit the NHS website.
If you would like advice and support to make healthier lifestyle changes, please visit livewirewarrington.co.uk/lifestyles/
