Bankies urged to get involved as Dementia Awareness Week 2017 begins

BANKIES are being encouraged to get involved in Dementia Awareness Week Scotland 2017 in support of more than 1,000 people in the area living with the disease.

The week, which is held from May 29 to June 4, works to promote better understanding and communication between friends and family with those 1,400 diagnosed with dementia in West Dunbartonshire and the 90,000 people across the country.

Fiona Kane, dementia advisor for West Dunbartonshire said: “Hearing about dementia from other people who have dementia can be really powerful because it makes people aware that they can still do things.

“Yes it’s a very serious illness and people need a lot of support but there are lots of ways to still live well with dementia.”

The West Dunbartonshire Dementia Resource Centre on Miller Street will be holding a number of events for people to attend.

The centre will be hosting their regular “Tea and a Blether” drop-in cafe on Miller Street on Wednesday, May 31, following a Dementia Friends Engagement Evening on May 30 where there will be a chance to meet the Dementia Awareness West Dunbartonshire Learning and Engagement team. The group will also host a Purple Tea Dance on the June 9 with a live band and tea and cakes.

The theme of this year’s awareness week is “friendship” as people often lose contact with their friends or families when they get dementia.

The “Tea and a Blether” initiatives are used as a way to create positive dialogue between those living with dementia and their family.

“It’s also about education and changing our own behaviours” said Ms Kane, “it’s so important that people chat to each other but how we respond to people can really knock their confidence.

“For example, there’s no point asking people questions that they’ve got no hope of answering if they have short term memory loss like ‘what did you have for your lunch?’ Whereas if you were to say ‘tell me about your school days then that’s a whole different ball game.”

Education of the public has also been made a priority, particularly how to interact with someone in a public place who may be lost or confused – and Ms Kane says positive body language is key.

West Dunbartonshire’s support centre work with people living with dementia ranging from their 50s through to their 80s and 90s. However, Scotland only offers free health and social care for people over 65.

Fiona added: “People at the younger end of the age range face very different difficulties with dementia.

“They might still have dependent children, had to give up their job and their partner may have had to give up theirs to care for them. There’s an economic impact there because they won’t receive the same support.

“Most of the support centres are all designed for people who are over 65 and so if someone is coming along to a drop-in session they may find it hard to fit in. That’s why campaigning for equality for those under 65 is really high on the agenda.”

For more information contact the Alzheimer’s Scotland helpline on 0808 808 3000.