Getting an early diagnosis is important, and that’s the message we’re spreading when out in the community to mark Dementia Action Week.
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.
We hosted a Dementia awareness event on Monday 13th May at our offices in Pitts Close Galmington. This included a training experience on the Virtual Dementia Tour bus. This bus is a simulator that gives a person an insight into what living with dementia might be like. Using specialist equipment and creating a simulated environment, those who took part in the experience were given tasks to do on the bus.
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.
Here is what some of the participants had to say about the experience.
“It was an enlightening experience to really put yourself into the shoes of those who have Dementia. It has certainly made me think about how they feel and experience their daily lives.”
“It was truly an eye opening experience. I am glad I had the opportunity to do it.”
“The Dementia bus was a brilliant but overwhelming experience. It gave a true insight into what our clients with dementia go through on the daily basis.”
“The experience on the bus yesterday was impactful. It was such was an emotionally draining but powerful experience. It is our hope to be able to help more people within our local community and make a difference to their everyday lives.”
The Virtual Dementia Tour is managed by Training 2 Care and is the only medically and scientifically proven method of giving a person with a healthy brain the experience of what dementia might be like. We would like to thank Training2Care for delivering such an excellent experience!
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.”
Dementia symptoms checklist created by Alzheimer’s Society. It is not intended to diagnose dementia or other health conditions as everyone experiences dementia in their own way. The checklists includes common signs of dementia but there could be underlying reasons for any changes you’ve noticed. It is always best to talk to your GP about any concerns you have indicated on the checklist. This checklist is free to download.
Our local community offers a wide range of activities for adults to enjoy, including groups for those with dementia and their carers. It can be difficult knowing where to start so we have created this ‘What’s on Where’ guide so you can brighten up your social calendar, make new friends and enjoy the best of what our local community has to offer!
If you would like to find out more, you can download the free PDF or pop into our office in the Comeytrowe Centre for a copy.
Our dementia training programme is City & Guilds assured and has even won a Princess Royal Training Award. Our Care Professionals are equipped with the empathy, knowledge and skills to respond to common dementia symptoms and enable older people to live at home safely and happily.
If you would like to know about our award winning dementia training or would like to learn more about Home Instead’s care services or career opportunities, please email [email protected] or call us on 01823 211121