ESSEX-based Dementia Adventure is delighted to have been awarded £3,000 from Fowler Smith & Jones to hold two ‘Thinking Differently about Dementia’ seminars for family carers of people living with dementia in the county.
The seminars will look at the following key issues:
What dementia is
What it means to the individual
How people can live well with dementia
How dementia can affect communication and interaction
The organisation will explore three simple and effective research based models of how to effectively interact and communicate with people living with dementia and review some of the difficulties that may be experienced. Additionally, participants will be shown how Dementia Adventure activities, holidays and short breaks have created opportunities for various physical and outdoor activity and how positive risk taking can benefit the individual. There will also be a Q & A session as well as exploring what support is available locally, together with resources for further learning and development.
Debbie Anderson, Dementia Adventure Project Leader said: "This grant is really good news for people supporting someone living with dementia in Essex. It will allow us to run two training events for unpaid carers giving them the tools and information to support their loved one with dementia as well increasing confidence to enjoy nature-based activities. Keeping active, stimulating the brain and contact with nature can really help to improve health and well-being and can even delay and reduce symptoms of dementia.
Dementia affects the whole family; the strain of caring on family relationships is huge. A lack of knowledge and understanding of dementia can lead to difficulties for the carer and their relationship with the person they love and are caring for. The abilities and behaviour of the person may change as their dementia progresses so being able to understand this will help carers to cope, by reducing their own stress and anxiety, and improve their ability to communicate with the person they are looking after."
In Essex alone there are:
More than 20,000 people living with dementia (Essex Dementia Strategy, 2012)
Dementia increases with age and there is a rapidly aging population in Essex – the number of people over 85 years in Essex will more than double, from about 31,000 to 77,000 by 2031. (Essex Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, 2013)
Dementia can affect people of any age – in fact it is estimated that there are 42,325 people in the UK who have been diagnosed with young onset dementia (under 65 years). They are often more active, and wish to remain so for as long as they can. (Dementia 2014 report, Alzheimer’s Society)
It is estimated that two thirds of people with dementia are living at home and are likely to be looked after by an unpaid family carer yet families are often not given the information and skills they need to support them in their caring role. (Prime Minister’s challenge on dementia 2020, Department of Health, 2015)
The seminars are aimed at unpaid family carers of any age who support someone with dementia and professionals working with people with dementia. To register your interest in attending a training session, please contact Debbie Anderson at Dementia Adventure on 01245 237548 or deborah@dementiaadventure.co.uk
