Support for dementia sufferers (From Basingstoke Gazette)
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New service launched in North Hampshire
4:00pm Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News By Emily Roberts, Chief Reporter
A NEW dementia project will launch in north Hampshire this month.
Funded by the North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group, and co-ordinated by Hampshire Wellbeing Service, based in Basingstoke, it will run from March 7 to May 23 to raise awareness of the illness.
The project will deliver a programme of community-based dementia awareness workshops, including topics such as the power of the memory, the four stages of dementia, communication skills and helping people with dementia.
Hampshire Wellbeing Service believes that help for dementia sufferers can come from within someone’s own community and it has been awarded dedicated funding to make this a reality.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, in 2012 it worked with 1,786 dementia cases in Basingstoke and Deane and 1,119 in Hart.
Annie Nobel, director of the service, said: “This is another Hampshire Wellbeing Services initiative designed to outreach into the community to reduce health inequalities.
“It will help communities make informed choices about their health and wellbeing, and support community members to be better organised to support each other.
“We will target a large number of people with bilingual skills to enrol on our programme to ensure messages and support reach those who are marginalised.”
The next dementia awareness workshop, called The Power of the Memory, is on March 7, from 9.30am to 12.30pm, at Mosaic Centre in Chute House, Church Street, Basingstoke.
To reserve a place contact Jayne Morgan on 07855 697 897.
