Dementia Awareness Week

Dementia Awareness Week

This year the theme of Dementia Awareness Week, which runs from 30 May – 5 June 2022, is 'Let's Prevent, Care, Cure Dementia Together'.

There are currently over 90,000 people in Scotland living with a dementia diagnosis, so it’s likely that dementia has touched your life - you might have been diagnosed with dementia yourself or have a loved one, friend or neighbour who is living with the condition or caring for someone with it.

During Dementia Awareness Week we are hosting a ‘Tea and Blether’ event on 1 June at St Boswells Cricket Club from 10.30am to 2.30pm. We are also encouraging people to ‘Walk for Dementia’ to raise awareness and support people living with dementia in our hospitals and communities. You can register to walk or donate here. Please share your walk with us by posting photos on social media using the hashtag #walkfordementiaborders

Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Nurse Consultant at NHS Borders, Christine Proudfoot said: “Dementia Awareness Week is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of dementia in the Borders. This includes those who are worried about their memory, those seeking a diagnosis and those looking to access support. Increasing awareness about dementia is especially important after the challenges we have all faced during the pandemic.

“It is vital that we continue to support people living with dementia and their carers so that they can live well. This year, a simple act of support during Dementia Awareness Week can make all the difference.”

There are many activities that can help to support people with dementia to live well throughout the year, one of which is reading. One of our Therapeutic Activity Coordinators, Claire Weddle has been working with The Scottish Book Trust to promote an initiative called “Reading is Caring”, which uses reading to support people living with dementia and anyone who cares for them. She said: “The Book Trust trains people who care for someone living with dementia – including partners, friends, family members and professional carers. They are shown how to create personalised, shared and sensory reading experiences through free workshops that can help maintain their caring relationships, spark memories and relieve stress.”

A local service user’s wife, who has taken part in the Reading is Caring initiative said: "My husband loves the interaction and it’s great that staff spend time reading with him. Our grandson is keen to read with his Papa and loved the photo of staff reading with him. It’s really important to me that my husband is happy and enjoying activities."

The Scottish Book Trust’s Reading is Caring scheme has proved to make a huge difference to both the person living with dementia and the person caring for them. We would encourage people whose daily lives are affected by the condition to sign up for Reading is Caring. 

For more information visit Dementia Awareness Week.

For more information about local support available in the Borders contact Alzheimer Scotland Borders on 01573400324 or e-mail borders@alzscot.org

To learn more about the Reading is Caring programme visit The Scottish Book Trust.

To register your Walk for Dementia and/or donate visit the difference.