The Swindon Dementia Action Alliance held a dementia information expo event to highlight some key dementia support services and raise awareness within the town.
The Swindon Dementia Action Alliance held the event on Monday 16 May at the Central Swindon Library.
The expo ran from 10.30am - 12.30pm, and representatives from many different organisations within the Swindon area had stalls that could be visited. Informative goody bags were also provided by the Zurich Community Trust.
All were welcome at the event - those living with dementia, carers, and members of the general public.
Mark Flay, Deputy Chair of Swindon Dementia Action Alliance, said: "Our key aim is to make Swindon a more dementia friendly community. We have this expo event as well as a now sold out afternoon tea dance on Thursday 19 May, to help those living with dementia, and for those supporting them.
“We also hope to raise awareness and inform members of the public with these events too. We wanted to do something different to encourage people to come out and actually exchange information and talk through any concerns or questions around dementia.”
Organisations present at the expo included:
- Zurich Community Trust
- Wyvern Theatre
- Admiral Nurses
- Alzheimer's Society
- Swindon Carers Centre
- Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP)
- Ridgeway Rise care home
- Home Instead
- Savernake View care home
- Wiltshire Police
- Swindon Borough Council's Public Health department
The event also attracted the attention of Swindon MP Robert Buckland and Deputy Mayor of Swindon Abdul Amin.
Mr Amin said: “I think this is a wonderful event organised by Swindon Dementia Action Alliance. This is the first time I have visited an event run by this organisation and I have found all of the stalls to be very informative and interesting.
“When it comes to Dementia – awareness is very important. The services that are present today are doing a fantastic job and this event has been perfect for showing members of the community how and where they can access help and support.”
Mr Buckland added: "This is the first post-covid get-together for some of the key organisations that work in our town to help support not just people with dementia but their carers as well. It can be a very isolating experience, and there is still unfortunately a bit of stigma around dementia – that’s why the training that is going on here today is so important.
“I have attended similar training sessions in the past and they’re great for spreading awareness. They show that with just a few adjustments, people can learn to spot the signs of dementia and allow extra time and patience for those affected and their carers.
“We’re in dementia awareness week this week, so launching it at the Central library is a great way to get the message out there and showcase these important organisations and what they do.”
As well as visiting the various information stands, attendees were offered the chance to attend a Dementia Friends Awareness session with Kevin O'Donoghue from Dementia Friends (an Alzheimer's Society initiative).
Kevin joined the Dementia Friends team as a volunteer around six years ago when he started his retirement. He says he has made over 2,000 Dementia Friends during his time with the organisation.
He said: "This is my first face-to-face dementia friends session since the pandemic started. Beforehand, I was carrying out my volunteer work over zoom.
“A Dementia Friends Awareness session is not a training session as such – it’s all about education and awareness. The more knowledgeable or aware you are, the better you can understand and support those around you with dementia.
“We ask two things from those that attend our sessions – we ask them to try and remember the five key messages that we provide on a handout, and we also ask them to commit to a dementia-friendly action. This action could be anything from running a charity marathon, to just being more patient with someone who is in front of you in a queue at a supermarket who is having trouble counting their change."
Staff at Swindon Borough Council's Public Health department estimate there are up to 10,000 dementia friends currently in Swindon. Kevin and other volunteers with Dementia Friends also take their sessions into schools and to youth groups.
Kevin added: "Children are great – they’re like sponges and soak up all the information. The sessions are toned down a bit to be friendly for schools, but the kids are great – they totally get it and behave empathically towards each other.
“The aim with the schools link is to work to build a dementia-friendly generation.
"I think these sessions are so important because they are all about awareness, and people leaving with a bit more of an understanding for how they can help people within their lives with dementia. Everyone with dementia is different and they are all on their own journeys – no two people are the same.”
The council's Public Health department are setting a goal for the majority of council employees to undergo a Dementia Friends session. They are aiming for around 70 - 80% of staff to have attended a session in order to further raise awareness within their own organisation.
Nyree Kingsbury works for the Public Health department at Swindon Borough Council.
She said of the expo event: “Public Health is working with all the different groups and care homes at this event to try and raise awareness for people who have had a recent diagnosis or a longer term diagnosis. We think it is important to show people living with dementia, their carers, and other members of the general public, that there are all these different services and organisations to support them within Swindon.
“By passing along this information and showcasing the different support services at this event, we hope to lessen any fears and answer questions that attendees may have.
“Dementia cafes in Swindon are starting up again and we want to advertise the different specially tailored events for people living with dementia in the town. This expo is aims to help people on their journey with dementia.”
More information about the Swindon Dementia Action Alliance can be found at https://www.dementiaaction.org.uk/local_alliances/10211_swindon_dementia_action_alliance
More information about Dementia Friends can be found at https://www.dementiafriends.org.uk/
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