The Alzheimer's Society is staging Dementia Awareness Week from Sunday (15 May) to Saturday 21 May, 2016.
Members of Wolverhampton's Dementia Action Alliance will be holding a series of events throughout the week and are encouraging people who are worried that they, or someone close to them, may have the condition to find out more about the support available to them.
The programme literally kicks off with a fundraising football match at the home of Wolverhampton Wanderers organised by John Donovan. A team from his Wolverhampton based firm JJX Logistics will take on a side representing the Royal George pub in Willenhall on the hallowed turf of Molineux Stadium on Sunday at 3pm, with all proceeds going to the Alzheimer's Society.
Young people from Moreton Community School will be performing a Dance for Dementia at the Civic Centre on Monday at 2pm, while residents are encouraged to don Denim for Dementia by wearing denim clothing on Wednesday - and in doing so make a small donation to the city's branch of the Alzheimer's Society.
The City of Wolverhampton Council is hosting a vintage tea dance for people with dementia and their carers in the Mayor's Parlour on Friday - during which a series of high tech "smart posters" will be officially unveiled. They have been developed by the University of Wolverhampton and are designed to provide information to anyone who scans the posters with their mobile phones.
Meanwhile, people are invited to become Dementia Friends by attending short information sessions organised by the Alzheimer's Society outlining how they can help and support people with dementia.
These will be taking place at the University of Wolverhampton on Monday and Friday from 10am to 11.30am and at Epic Cafe, Lichfield Street next Saturday 21 May from 11am to12pm. Alternatively, people can become Dementia Friends by visiting Type=links;Linkid=5999;Title=Dementia Friends;Target=_blank;. Meanwhile, the Alzheimer's Society will also be holding special Dementia Friends sessions for City of Wolverhampton Council staff, many of whom come into contact with service users with dementia on a regular basis, during the week.
The University is hosting a drop-in information and advice session for carers on Wednesday from 11am to 2pm, there will be a coffee morning organised by the Natty Knitters at Lower Bradley Community Centre on the same day from 10am.
The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals Trust is holding fundraising activities, a quiz and information stand from 10am to 4pm on Monday and Wednesday and from 8.30am to 4pm on Friday, and the Alzheimer's Society has an information session at the Epic Cafe on Lichfield Street on Tuesday from 12.45pm to 2.45pm. Waitrose on Penn Road has an information stand in store on Friday.
Life Direct, which provides support for people aged 50 and over and their carers, will be hosting a session on mindfulness and art therapy to help people with dementia from 11am to 2pm on Wednesday and a coffee morning and reminiscence session on Friday from 11am to 12.30pm. Both events take place at Life Direct's offices on Victoria Street, Wolverhampton.
Two special Dementia Cafes will be taking place during the week - at Pendeford Medical Centre on Tuesday from 2pm to 4pm and a second at Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies' Molineux Hotel Building on Thursday from 10.30am to 12.30pm. At both events, officers from West Midlands Police will also be giving top tips about crime prevention.
Advice and guidance for members of the Asian community living with dementia is available at the Bob Jones Community Hub on Thursday from 10.30am to 12.30pm, with information available in Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu and Gujarati.
Other events including a trip down memory lane for residents of Meadowcroft Residential Home, a dementia awareness session and information stand at the ExtraCare scheme at Broadway Gardens, Bushbury, training sessions and fundraising events for staff at New Cross Hospital and a workshop for care practitioners being held at Bilston Health Centre. Trading Standards officers will be talking to staff from Lloyds Bank about how best to support vulnerable customers with conditions such as dementia.
Throughout the week Life Direct will be offering one to one advice and information about dementia at its base on Victoria Street, the University of Wolverhampton will be hosting an online quiz about dementia and the City of Wolverhampton Council will have an information stand on the ground floor of the Civic Centre and at Central Library.
Finally, West Midlands Fire Service is holding a charity car wash at Fallings Park Fire Station next Saturday 21 May from 10am to 4pm, with all proceeds going to the Alzheimer's Society.
Councillor Elias Mattu, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adults, said: "Dementia is a debilitating condition which affects nearly a million people in the UK, including 3,600 in Wolverhampton. It can be a very difficult subject to talk about, but the sooner people know what they are dealing with, the sooner they can feel in control again and get on with their life.
"I am pleased that the council and members of the Dementia Action Alliance are organising so many events and activities to mark Dementia Awareness Week 2016. It is an important opportunity for people to find out more about the condition, and the help and support which is available to them in Wolverhampton.
"I'd also encourage people to become a Dementia Friend - and in doing so join the 1.5 million Dementia Friends nationally who better understand the needs of people living with dementia and are doing their bit to help them."
This year's Dementia Awareness Week will encourage people who are worried about dementia to confront their worries and contact the Alzheimer's Society for information and support either via the National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122 or by emailing helpline@alzheimers.org.uk. More information about Alzheimer's Society and Dementia Awareness Week 2016 is available at Type=links;Linkid=3328;Title=Alzheimer's Society;Target=_blank;.
- released: Friday 13 May, 2016