Nottingham City Council is marking Dementia Action Week (13-19 May) with a day of events at Nottingham Central Library.
Nottingham City Libraries and the Age Friendly Nottingham team have joined forces to create a programme of events for anyone interested in finding out more about dementia, the support available locally and current research.
It will be held at the venue on Tuesday (14) between 10.30am and 3pm.
People can be directly affected by dementia as a patient, carer, family member or neighbour, work with people who are impacted by dementia or just want to know more about it and how to support those living with it.
Nationally over the past five years, dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease were on average the leading cause of death.[1]
There will be a number of organisations supporting people with dementia and their carers who will be available throughout the day.
The programme will include bite-size talks from researchers at both the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University, exploring genetics, cultural diversity and dementia support and the use of technology to support people living with early-onset dementia.
There will also be an opportunity for people impacted by dementia to feed into engagement work on the current Dementia Wellbeing Pathway for NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
Anyone interested in learning more about dementia can become a Dementia Friend by attending a free workshop on the day addressing common perceptions about dementia and how to support those affected by it.
There will be performances by Wollaton Songtime, a singing group for people with dementia in the city.
Dementia Action Week also marks the launch of the new version of the Reading Well for dementia collection. This is a national scheme comprising a list of books and electronic resources selected by health professionals and librarians in partnership with the Reading Agency.
Titles will be available to borrow from city libraries from Tuesday next week and will include informational titles, as well as lived experience and a number of books designed to help children understand dementia in an older relative or family friend.
At Tuesday’s event there will be the opportunity to see the new collection and explore other resources available through libraries to aid reminiscence including the Picture Nottingham photographic archive.
Councillor Linda Woodings, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health at Nottingham City Council, said: “We need to enable people diagnosed with dementia to live well and lead as full a life as possible and encourage communities to work together to help people stay healthier for longer.
“It is also vitally important to support the families and carers of those living with dementia and next week’s event offers the opportunity for all those impacted by the condition to find out more about the help and support available across the city.”
Councillor Pavlos Kotsonis, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture at Nottingham City Council, said: “Libraries play a key role in supporting health and wellbeing in our communities through the provision of trusted information.
“It is exciting to be able to work with a range of partners for this event in our new Central Library, enabling citizens to find out more about dementia, and to be able to offer the new Reading Well for dementia titles for library customers to borrow.”
The Council House in Old Market Square will also be lit up purple on Wednesday (15) in recognition of Dementia Action Week.
[1]Monthly mortality analysis, England and Wales – Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)