Libraries across Devon are marking national Dementia Awareness Week (18 to 24 May) by highlighting the support and advice they offer for people whose lives are affected by dementia. Ciara Eastell, Head of Devon County Council’s Library Service, said: “Dementia is becoming the most significant health issue of our time, and has a profound impact, not only on the person affected but also on family and friends.
"There is still an acute lack of understanding for the condition so access quality-assured information, advice and support for dementia care is important.
Gina Awad has just returned from her Great Wall of China trek challenge in aid of dementia research. The trip whilst only 70 miles over 7 days was arduous with the huge vertical inclines, declines and never ending slopes and steps. She explains: "A group of 30 strangers raising money for a range of charities spent 9 days off the beaten track trekking the Great Wall. Nothing could have prepared me for such a surreal and liberating experience. Having not researched the trek was probably good in hindsight as I truly believe I would have backed out.
Gina Awad, Project Lead of the Exeter Dementia Action Alliance, and 40 staff including seven GPs from St Thomas Health Centre, spent their Saturday morning cycling from Exeter to Exmouth and back again all in aid of raising funds for dementia.
They were inspired following a Dementia Friends information session delivered by Gina, who also volunteers as a Dementia Friends Champion in Exeter, and arranged this event to support her fundraising. Together they have raised approximately £2,300.
Gina’s hour long interactive talk triggered Health Centre staff to join in with her...
People suffering from dementia are being offered the chance to get out and enjoy pottering around on an allotment thanks to Age UK Exeter and Exeter City Council.
Linking Lives is a new project being rolled out by Age UK Exeter.
With funding from Age UK nationally five pilot projects across the country have been selected to try out innovative ideas that may help people newly diagnosed with dementia to live well and enjoy life.
The Exeter project allows people who have been recently diagnosed with dementia to meet up with others, share their experiences and make new...
Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust is supporting a new nationwide online and telephone service that helps people in the South West of England to take part in dementia research studies.
Join Dementia Research promises to accelerate the pace of dementia research by allowing people with and without dementia to register their interest in studies, helping researchers find the right participants at the right time.
This new Department of Health funded service is a collaboration between the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Alzheimer’s Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society...
The Alzheimer’s Society has announced the launch of a new dementia-focussed Doctoral Training Centre at the University of Exeter.
The centre will support eight PhD students to investigate the effect of dementia on the brain’s neural networks.
Nationally, the dementia research community is one sixth the size of the cancer research community and Alzheimer’s Society aims to attract new people to dementia research from a range of different academic and clinical backgrounds, bringing fresh ideas and talent to help expand the boundaries of dementia science.
Staff and volunteers at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital are putting their knitting needles to good use knitting Twiddlemuffs for patients with dementia. And they are looking for more knitters to join them.
Twiddlemuffs are knitted woollen muffs with items such as ribbons, large buttons or textured fabrics attached that patients with dementia can twiddle in their hands whilst on the wards at the RD&E.
People with dementia often have restless hands and like something to keep them occupied. The Twiddlemuffs provide a source of visual, tactile and sensory stimulation at...
An Exeter man is set to join a determined group of fund-raisers who are planning a midnight trek to the peak of Mount Snowdon to raise funds to help find a cure for dementia.
Stoke Canon resident Andrew Harris’ mum Jackie was diagnosed with vascular dementia three years ago and is cared for on a day to day basis by her 84 year-old husband Douglas.
37-year-old Andrew, who works in the IT department at Gregory Distribution, said: “My sister, Melissa and I help out at any opportunity. Although diagnosis and treatment are available there is no cure, yet. We have found it...
A new information dementia drop in centre has been opened at Topsham Pharmacy and is open on Thursdays between 10am and noon.
Run by volunteers, it is somewhere people to come to find out what support maybe available to them and generally answer any questions they may have on dementia.
Sallie Rutledge who runs The Mede and Seaward House (holiday and day support for people with dementia) in Topsham says: "There's little help at times for the carer and they can feel very isolated.
"We are hoping carers will come to us and tell us what they need....
A holiday home in Topsham called The Mede that supports people living with dementia and offers a specialist activity club next door, was recently selected as a finalist in the business category for The Alzheimer's Society "Dementia Friendly Awards" .
With recent news that the number of people with dementia could triple by 2050, there is an ever more pressing need for facilities that offer support.
Sallie Rutledge, mother of three, opened The Mede five years’ ago to enable carers and their loved ones to have holidays, after her own father in law was diagnosed...
