This year’s National Dementia Action Week (13th – 19th May) saw lots of events and activities happening in and around Bromley. Here, Co-Chair Nikki Fishman reports on some of the week’s highlights.
National Dementia Action Week is always an important date in the Bromley Dementia Friendly Community’s calendar. It’s an opportunity for us to come together and show our support for those in the borough affected by dementia.
This year was no exception! Our wonderful individuals and organisations certainly did not disappoint and there were many wonderful highlights.
Among them was KYN Bickley bringing us some amazing guest speakers. They led a debate on ‘Why Words Matter’, in which we discussed redesigning language in dementia care.
Hilary Woodhead, CEO of the National Association of Providers of Activities, was well received by partners at our dementia café. Watch this space, as future collaborations emerge as a result of this workshop.
Another of my personal highlights was the discussion with Consultant Admiral Nurse Rachel Thompson on living with Lewy Body dementia. Chris Maddocks also talked eloquently about her experience living with this condition.
The first Penge Dementia Awareness Day brought together a number of organisations. Thanks to the Penge BID team who welcomed us all and took such good care of us on the day. We were able to signpost individuals and couples who were struggling with the diagnosis to some valuable local support.
The Week was also notable for several Dementia Friends sessions being held – among them Crystal Palace Community Trust at Anerley Town Hall.
All this was rounded off by the now traditional Indoor Street Party, organised by our Core Team member Ann from Mytime Active. The party was bigger and better than ever and was attended by the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Bromley. For more details on this event, please see the separate news post.
One of the most exciting outcomes of the Week was the behind-the-scenes work which has been going on in Bromley since January to build this shiny new website for the borough’s dementia community!
Nikki Fishman, Co-Chair Bromley Dementia Friendly Community