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Dementia Friendly Cardiff

 

Dementia Friendly Cardiff - a movement to encourage and support organisations, local businesses and community groups in the city to become more dementia-friendly will be officially launched next week.

 

At a special event at the Motorpoint Arena on Monday May 21 during Dementia Action Week (May 21-27), work taking place across Cardiff to improve the lives of people affected by dementia will be showcased and celebrated while priorities for ensuring the city is as supportive and inclusive as possible will be explored.

 

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The city is currently working with Alzheimer's Society Cymru towards becoming a dementia-friendly community and last year, a pledge scheme enlisting the support of public, private and third sector services on the journey was introduced.

 

Now, with more and more organisations and businesses across the city pledging to learn about and implement small changes to become more dementia-friendly, the Dementia Friendly Cardiff launch event will shine the light on good practice in the city and discuss what lessons can be learned to make a difference to people affected by dementia.

 

At the event, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board will also launch their Dementia Strategy and Action Plan  2018 - 2021, which was developed in conjunction with the Regional Partnership Board.

 

The strategy sets out an ambitious goal to increase the awareness of dementia across the entire population of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan while simultaneously improving the experience of those living with dementia and reducing the population's risk of developing dementia.

 

The strategy states that "people with dementia will have equitable and timely access to a diagnosis; they will have person-centred care delivered locally with kindness. Carers will feel supported and empowered."

 

As part of its commitment to supporting people with dementia, Cardiff and Vale UHB was eager to pledge its support to Dementia Friendly Cardiff and has been highly involved in the development of the initiative.

 

As of March 2018, around 70% of all our staff had received dementia awareness training with many of them signing up to become dementia friends.

 

Cabinet Member for Social Care, Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Susan Elsmore said: "We are committed to supporting citizens and families who live with dementia and to making Cardiffa recognised Dementia Friendly City,a place where people affected by dementia can continue to prosper and enjoy life, safe in the knowledge that the wider community is understanding and supportive of their needs.

 

"The pledge scheme is gathering momentum with a wide range of organisations committing to play their part on our journey to becoming a dementia friendly city so during Dementia Action Week, we want to celebrate achievements so far, and work with partners and those affected by dementia to ensure we are doing everything we can to meet the needs of people living with dementia."

 

Various organisations that provide dementia-related services will be at the Motorpoint Arena event, offering advice and information to attendees. There will also be Dementia Friends awareness sessions and workshops to gather ideas on howthe city can become more supportive and inclusive for people with dementia and their carers.

 

Throughout Dementia Action Week, a number of Cardiff libraries and hubs will be holding dementia cafes, a safe place forpeople living with dementia, their carers and families to enjoy a cuppa and the chance to meet with others, access information and find out about services in a sociable environment. Cafes will be held at the Powerhouse onTuesday May 22(12-2pm), Rhiwbina Library on Wednesday May 23 (10.30am - 12pm) and Llanishen Hub on Thursday May 24, (12-2pm). Storytime and craft sessions in the city's hubs and libraries throughout the week will have a dementia-friendly theme.

 

The Council's Meals on Wheels service, which helps elderly and vulnerable people live independently at home for longer, will be providing shoppers with samples of their hot, nutritious meals at St David's Shopping Centre on May 23 while the library service will be out and about to raise awareness of their services, including the dementia cafes, Reminiscence Pods and resources available in libraries and hubs.

 

The service uses a number of ‘Rem Pods', which are pop up ‘sets' including a 1960s living room, an old cinema and a traditional sweet shop with associated props, during care home visits and events to help people remember bygone times, to provoke conversations and spark memories.

 

Melanie Andrews, Operations Manager for Alzheimer's Society in South East Wales, said:

 

"We're calling on people in Cardiff to take action this Dementia Action Week.In the UK, one person develops dementia every three minutes and almost everyone knows someone whose life has been affected. Yet too many people face the condition alone without adequate support.

 

"People with dementia and carers have shared actions with us that will make a difference, from ‘invite me out, friends still mean the world to me' to ‘take time to listen, I can still teach you a thing or two.'

 

"So join us on Wednesday the 23rd of May in St David's Shopping Centre, Cardiff to take action and unite against dementia and help people affected to feel included in their community and able to live the life they want."

 

For more information on Dementia Friendly Communities visitalzheimers.org.uk/dementiafriendlycommunities

 

Alzheimer's Society is here for anyone affected by dementia. The charity provides information and support, to find out more call the National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122or visit alzheimers.org.uk/DementiaActionWeek