Services A-Z
Wallingford’s Dementia Friendly Community is an initiative being developed in towns right across the UK. In August 2021 Wallingford Town Council agreed that such an initiative would benefit our community.
Councillor Katharine Keats-Rohan and Val Wolsey, leader for Caring for Carers in our Community, now an outreach and nurture group initiative for St Mary’s Church, started by visiting those working in our town centre venues and retail outlets to invite them to an introductory get-together at Waterside Court Care Home at the beginning of October.
Katharine has been involved for many years as a volunteer in medical and public health research and is very aware of the large numbers of people and their families who live with a dementia diagnosis. She reports: “Medical research is finally hitting its stride after years of frustration. Now we need to find the most useful pathways to help and support families/carers, which is more challenging than it should be”. It is estimated that unpaid carers save the NHS £162bn and Social Care £132bn per year! We want to support the carers who are as important as those they care for with this enterprise. Join us to share experiences over tea and biscuits at the Carers meetings on 2nd Tuesday each month at 2.00 pm in St Mary’s Church. Carers Oxfordshire are in attendance, and we have speakers on various topics
It is important to remember that though dementia is a currently incurable disease of the brain, people living with it can still live well, with help and understanding. One of the suggestions from our carers is that having a programmed list of activities, or simply places to go for company, could be very helpful. You will see we have drawn up a list of the venues in the town that offer a welcome and things to do, with the days and times of each offering. This can be used by everyone, and we hope that many will seek out the welcome offered and make new connections.
Our retailers and other partners are all being asked to become Dementia Friends. There is a really informative short video that will be provided to them. All those we have talked to have readily agreed to come onboard; some have experience of the disease through family and friends, others through seeing customers and clients in decline, perhaps experiencing confusion by those visiting their premises. Look out for our new logo in windows around the town confirming participation in the scheme and assuring you of help if needed.
Anyone can become a Dementia Friend by visiting www.dementiafriends.org.uk. If you have a loved-one recently diagnosed and want help to understand what it’s like, you could read the wonderful books by Wendy Mitchell, who is herself living with the condition.
If you want to know more, please come to our formal launch of our Dementia Friendly Community, “Living with Dementia”, an information event in St Mary’s Church between 11.00 am and 3.00 pm on Tuesday, 28 November 2023.
Contacts: cllr.katharine.keats.rohan@wallingfordtowncouncil.gov.uk valwolsey@gmail.com
