Carers and services come together to learn about how they can better support people living with dementia.

During this event, we had the opportunity to speak to carers about their experiences of dementia services.

Jane, whose mother has dementia, worries about her mother being able to access online information for appointments: 

"I prefer paper letters as everything is now online, it is a concern as people with dementia won't be able to get this and attend their appointments, especially the ones who live independently".

We also spoke to Tony, who shared his concerns about the lack of engaging activities for people living with dementia. Tony's mother lives in a care home in Bexley and while the care is good, he was worried about his mother staying in front of the TV all day. 

"She would tell me she didn't want to be there". 

While the care home considered his concerns and stopped placing his mother in front of the TV, there is still a lack of engaging activities being offered to residents. 

These conversations highlighted the importance of ongoing dialogue with dementia services to improve the care they offer to people living with dementia.

One of the highlights of the event included a presentation on the Lasting Power of Attorney and the Herbert Protocol, an essential initiative designed to reduce the risk of people living with dementia going missing. 

The event was also attended by Mayor, Dr. Dominic Mbang who was joined by Angelica Welzel-Connolly, the Dementia Action Co-ordinator to present the Dementia Inclusive awards to local businesses. These businesses have completed Free Dementia Awareness training and are committed to becoming more dementia-inclusive, making our community a safer and more supportive place for those living with dementia.

Overall, the event was a way for carers and services to come together to learn about how they can better support people living with dementia.