Gwynedd To Be A Better Place For People With Dementia

Some of Gwynedd Council’s councillors declare that they’re Dementia Friends after the session to raise awareness. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gwynedd is working towards a national standard which will make the county a better place for those living with dementia by establishing more Dementia Friendly Communities and getting more people to sign up to be Dementia Friends. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dementia will affect one in every 14 people over 65 years of age and there are 1,992 people diagnosed with the condition currently living in Gwynedd – the second highest number for the north Wales counties. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In the run up to National Dementia Week (16-22 May), a session to raise awareness of how we can all work together to make our communities better places for those living with the condition was held and those taking part heard how to reach the standard set by the Alzheimer’s Society. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

So far, Porthmadog is the only town in Gwynedd to have reached the ‘Working Towards a Dementia Friendly Community’ standard and community leaders heard how other Gwynedd towns and villages could reach it. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anyone can become a Dementia Friend by attending a session held by the Alzheimer’s Society to learn about the condition and by doing little things to help those who are living with the condition, such as being more understanding to the needs of people who they come across at work or socially. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In addition, any town or village can become a Dementia Friendly Community by reaching the standard set by the Alzheimer’s Society. For example, by setting up a local steering group which will come up with a programme to improve the quality of life and inclusion for people with dementia. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Leading one of the sessions during the day, Emma Quaeck who works for the Healthy Gwynedd initiative, said: “The aim of the session was to learn about what causes dementia, its different affects, the signs we can all look out for and how we can break down the stigma associated with it. As we have more older people, it’s going to become more of an issue for us all.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jo Lane, from the Alzheimer’s Society, said that a survey carried out by the organisation showed that many people with dementia stop living their lives as they used to as all too often they are uncomfortable going out and they may find taking part in activities and negotiating public transport more challenging. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She added: “A Dementia Friendly Community is a social movement which allows and encourages people who have dementia who live within these communities to contribute and participate in activities that are meaningful to them.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Those attending the session also heard about the work being carried out by Gwynedd Council to improve the health and wellbeing of people living with dementia as well as their carers. For example, the Dementia Go sessions held at various leisure centres which are aimed at improving health and wellbeing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

These various projects and information sessions are in tune with the new Wales Social Services and Wellbeing Act. According to the new legislation, among other targets, people receiving support from health and care services should be more empowered, people should have better access to wellbeing services and there should be better cooperation between public services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​