Dementia

Dementia Awareness Week Events

Dementia Awareness Week™ is taking place Sunday 19 May to Saturday 25 May 2013. This year, the theme of the week is ‘Worrying changes nothing. Talking changes everything.’

A number of events are taking place around the county.

What is dementia?

Most of us, either in our professional or private lives, will know someone who is living with dementia.  There are more than 22,000 people in Kent currently living with dementia and this number is set to rise to almost 30,000 within the next ten years.

In Kent there are lots of organisations that can offer support, advice and guidance if you are directly affected by dementia or if you care for someone who has dementia. 

The term ‘dementia’ describes a syndrome where there is a decline in mental functions, including:

• memory
• reasoning
• communication skills and
• the ability to carry out daily activities.
  

The onset of dementia can be caused by several factors, such as age, genetic background, medical history and lifestyle.

If you are worried about yourself or someone you know it is worth discussing your concerns with your General Practitioner (GP). Kent has excellent memory assessment services that your GP can refer you to in order to be properly assessed. 

Support services for people affected by dementia

If you have, or have recently been diagnosed, with dementia you can get support from the following organisations:

• DementiaWeb
  A collaboration between Kent and Medway, this website provides information and support for people based in Kent who are living with dementia.
• 24 hour Kent and Medway helpline - 0800 500 3014
  Emotional support for people with dementia and their carers. Find out more in the 24 hour Kent and Medway newsletter (PDF, 224k) 
• Dementia support groups in Kent
  Dementia cafés and peer support groups.
• Alzheimer's and Dementia Support Services
  Provides practical and emotional support to people with Dementia, their main carer and other relatives or supporters.
• Dementia choices
  The Mental Health Foundation has a range of information for people living with dementia, their families and friends, social care professionals and other staff about self-directed support in social care.  
• Shared Lives (Adult Placement Scheme)
  

  One of a number of similar schemes across the country. Shared Lives offers vulnerable adults, older people and people with dementia the chance to be part of a family setting. It is a positive alternative to traditional residential care and helps people to develop real and lasting new relationships and be part of the community,