Dementia Action Week for me

Good grief time flies.

Dementia Action Week was all go! On the Tuesday I was at the launching of Dementia Friendly Murton working group, which I might add was a fabulous decorative do, with a spread of the most delicious looking home baked cakes, and sandwiches you could ever wish for. The Ribbon Academy, Primary School children were absolutely delightful, they sang a couple of songs, and came round to everybody in the room to chat. All sporting their Dementia Friends badges on their left collar (as suggested by one of the pupils), they embodied what being dementia friendly is about. I spoke to them about the importance of becoming a dementia friendly community from the view of someone living with dementia, which was followed by filmed ‘Ask me anything’ questions. Two girls, Molly and…I can’t remember her name got together and thought up the questions together. My word I am so glad these children are our future. They get it. They understand why learning and knowing can help people living with dementia. Some good question were asked, one with nearly stumped me; “what do you find most frustrating?” I could think of a thousand answers but it had to be a short bite size one, so the only one I could think of at the time was losing things in my house after I had put it away safely!

The Thursday was to give two Dementia Friends sessions to parents of Seaham Trinity School children who had already had their sessions, but, no one turned up! Not in the morning, nor in the afternoon. I can say that the Head was not happy. Shame on the mums and dads. Next time maybe.

Friday we had a stand in the local Byron Place Shopping Centre, kindly offered us by the Gemma Stokoe, management of the centre who is firmly committed to becoming Dementia Friendly. It certainly is great to have support and commitment of local businesses. This was an information day, and lots of people asked us for leaflets and information. I found it sad to see some people lower their heads and walk past as I feel that they are the people who probably wanted to ask for information but were afraid to. In close communities that have pulled together in tough times for years gone by, Dementia is still a stigma in families. They are hiding it away inside their families. Oh how I feel for them, I want to say “what if you could talk to someone, get some support. Feel the relief of someone who talk to you, and help make things easier for you. Make the life of your person brighter by giving them an opportunity to attend groups”.

So Dementia Action Week was a positive week even though I got really stressed and anxious before hand.