Aiming for a dementia-friendly town

Thursday, 27 September 2012

Jane Honey

THE newly-formed Tavistock Dementia Action Alliance received a cash boost last week and a positive reaction to its first public meeting. The group hopes to make Tavistock the first dementia-friendly town in the country and aims to raise awareness of the condition and work to banish the stigma many associate with it. The move comes in a week when new research from Alzheimers Disease International revealed that a quarter of sufferers hide their diagnosis and even avoid going out of the home because of negative connotations surrounding dementia. Just as startling is the rapid increase in cases of dementia worldwide one new case is being diagnosed every four seconds three times as many as HIV/AIDS. This means 682 million people will live with dementia in the next 40 years significantly more than the entire population of all of North America, which stands at 542 million. Tony Parker, chairman of the Tavistock DAA, said he was delighted with the turnout at the first meeting last Thursday: There was a really good response, and quite a varied cross-section of people from solicitors to charities, the police and medical people, and people from Tavistocks memory caf. It was also very interesting to hear their views and ideas on how we can make the town more dementia-friendly, from street signs to acccessibility. Several key people have volunteered their services to form a steering group and we now have some money from Cllr Debo Sellis which will enable us to start our training and awareness packages for shops, businesses and clubs etc. Parallel with this, over the next three months we are going to concentrate on identifying the practical needs of people with dementia, and their carers. Tavistock DAA is working closely with the Rotary Club, whose REPoD movement (Rotarians Easing Problems of Dementia) started in Tavistock and is now being followed all over the UK. Geri Parlby, of Tavistock Rotary Club and a member of the new steering group, said Tavistock DAA would be officially launched at a Dementia Awareness Day event in Tavistock Town Hall on November 23, which is being organised by Senior Voice, REPoD and Tavistock Rotary Club. Geri said: The day is aimed at informing people about the services available in the area and increasing awareness. There will be displays and lots of speakers and we are hoping Angela Rippon will be our keynote guest, as shes agreed to be our honorary patron, due to her links in the area. This is a key chance for the people of Tavistock to learn more about dementia, and also perhaps for us to get more volunteers involved. Cllr Sellis, county councillor for Tavistock, has given Tavistock DAA 500 from her locality budget. She said: I think probably most families have been, or will be, touched by dementia and I think this is really good use of tax payers money. I know many people are too scared to admit to themselves, let alone their families, that they feel they may have dementia, and we really must do all we can to get rid of this stigma. Anyone who would like more information about Tavistock Dementia Action Alliance can call Tony Parker on 01364 631507 or email tavistockdaa@btinternet.com

Excerpt from:
Aiming for a dementia-friendly town