Borough turns out for National Dementia Awareness Week

Service providers and stall holders help to raise awareness of dementia in the Rochdale borough

Hundreds of people from across the borough visited a free event, held last week on The Butts, in Rochdale town centre for this year’s National Dementia Awareness Week (20 – 26 May 2012).

The event, which was organised by NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, had a number of stalls providing information and advice.

Staff from Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust and the Alzheimer’s Society were present to offer support for anyone concerned that their family and friends may have dementia, but didn’t know how to access help.

There were also service providers and stall holders from various organisations offering health checks and general information, as well as face painting and balloon modelling for the younger attendees.

Fozia Waseem, Commissioning Project Manager - Mental Health and Learning Disabilities/Dementia Lead at NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale said: “The event was a fantastic way to raise awareness about dementia and offer help to those that may be worried about their own memory or that of their loved ones. I am really happy with the turnout on the day and hope that people found it to be informative and useful.
“I would like to thank all the service providers and stall holders who attended for making the event a success.

"I’m really pleased that this was a joint and collaborative effort between all our stakeholders and I am grateful that they are pushing dementia to the forefront of all our minds and making this everyone’s business.”