Virtual Dementia Tour Bus brought to Taunton!

When you think of dementia, the first thing that you will probably think of is memory loss. As well as struggling with memory loss, a person’s senses can be altered making everyday tasks very difficult and challenging. Vision can be restricted, feet and hands can be numb and uncomfortable, and noises may be disorientating. All of this can have a profound impact on individuals mental health and wellbeing. It is important to note that every individual living with Dementia will experience challenges in a different way. In addition, those close to them will be affected by the impact of this.

In addition to our Care Professionals who took part in this experience, we were joined by the Mayor of Taunton, Nick O’Donnell. George D. G. Rawlings, Constituency Assistant for Office of Rebecca Pow, MP Member of Parliament for Taunton Deane, was also in attendance. Health professionals from College Way Surgery joined us to support this event. We also had Jo, a local Dementia Advisor from Alzheimer’s Society on hand to answer any questions or guests had. It was a pleasure to meet everyone and hear how the experience had affected them both professionally and personally.

Dr Mark Hunt, owner of Home Instead Taunton and West Somerset, said; “As a company that supports older people with dementia living at home, Home Instead sees the impact that the condition has on families and those in the community.

For a number of reasons, some people have difficulty receiving a dementia diagnosis. Perhaps the GP thinks that the person is simply showing signs of age, rather than dementia. And maybe their loved one doesn’t think they have developed the condition. The dementia checklist is such a useful to demonstrate the common signs your loved one is showing, from asking the same questions repeatedly to struggling to finding the right word.

Getting an early diagnosis is important, ad that’s the message we’re spreading when out in the community to mark Dementia Action Week. It might be that your loved one can get treatment to prevent it from progressing further. or they might benefit from joining a local support group. Finding out at an early stage stands you in great stead to face the challenges of dementia together.

We have Care Professionals who are specially trained to deliver dementia care, and decided that Dementia Action Week, run by Alzheimer’s Society, was the best time to raise awareness.”