Dementia concerns shared

Fifty-four members of the public have attended an event aimed at finding out more about issues and concerns regarding Dementia.

The Event was chaired by Sue Clarke: Locality Manager for Greater Manchester Central & West Alzheimer’s Society and speakers included Sister Candy James from the Watergrove Memory Clinic who spoke about the different types of Demetia, symptoms and causes; Fozia Waseem Commissioning Manager for Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust who spoke about the Dementia Strategy; and Margaret Connolly a carer who spoke about her experience of caring for her husband who had been living with Dementia.

Guests were given a chance have their say on Dementia using the interactive Ask the Audience equipment, kindly loaned by Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale Primary Care Trust.

The Main findings were that: 

• Much more information is needed around Dementia
• GP’s and other frontline health and social care professional need more training around the causes, treatments and effects Dementia can have on people living with Dementia and their carer’s.
• More service provision is needed for people living with Dementia and their carer’s
• Continuation of the development of the Memory Wellbeing Cafes is needed 

The event was hosted by Voices 4 Wellbeing and was planned in partnership with Rochdale and District Disability Action Group (RADDAG), Rochdale Boroughwide User Forum, Mind, Advocacy in Mind, Partnership for Older People’s Project (POPPs), Alzheimer’s Society, Rochdale Carer’s Association and NHS Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale Primary Care Approximately 54 people attended the event.