Suffolk Mind staff to become Dementia Friends during Dementia Action Week

Staff at Suffolk Mind are training to become Dementia Friends during Dementia Action Week this May (20-26).

Becoming a Dementia Friend means that you learn more about what it’s like to live with dementia. There are currently 850,000 people living with dementia in England. In Suffolk, it is estimated that 12,800 people are living with dementia.

Dementia Action Week is organised every year by the Alzheimer’s Society. Its aim is to unite people, workplaces, schools and communities to take action and improve the lives of people living with dementia. Suffolk Mind staff will be joining the 2.5 million people who are already Dementia Friends.

Dawn Williams works for Suffolk Mind and is carrying out the Dementia Friend training: “As a volunteer Dementia Friends Champion, I think it’s important for everyone to become a Dementia Friend to raise awareness. I am proud to be part of a growing network of people helping to create dementia friendly communities across England.

“The Dementia Friends sessions take just an hour, to learn about the small ways you can help.  From telling friends about the Dementia Friend programme to visiting someone you know living with dementia. Every action counts”.

Suffolk Mind launched a new service in 2018 called the Suffolk Young Dementia Network to support people in Suffolk who have traits, or a diagnosis, of young onset dementia. Figures suggest that those who live with the condition may be up to 6-9% of all people with dementia. The charity currently facilitates monthly meet-ups for people aged between 30 and 60 who are living with dementia.