Nicola Jackson speaking on Dementia

Tue, Feb 19th 2019 at 12:45 pm - 2:00 pm


Nicola Jackson from  Wych Malbank Rotary stated that Richmond Village are building a new Dementia Home in Willaston and went on to describe Dementia and becoming a Dementia Friend in the Community

What is Dementia?

 Dementia is caused by a number of diseases that affect the brain. The most common is Alzheimer's but diseases also include vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and Pick's disease.

Different types of dementia affect the brain at different rates and in different ways, but other things like someone's personal circumstances, the people around them and the environment in which they live, will affect their experience of dementia. Dementia progresses in a way that is unique to each individual.

The word 'dementia' describes a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. These changes are often small to start with, but for someone with dementia they have become severe enough to affect daily life. A person with dementia may also experience changes in their mood or behaviour.

It is true that more people over 65 have dementia but it is not exclusively an older person's disease; younger people get dementia too.

Become a Dementia Friend

Being a Dementia Friend simply means learning more about dementia, putting yourself in the shoes of someone living with the condition, and turning you understanding into action. From visiting someone you know with dementia to being more patient in a shop queue, every action counts.

Am I eligible?

Anyone of any age can be a Dementia Friend - we want school children and young people to be involved, as well as older people.

You don't need any previous experience or knowledge of dementia to be a Dementia Friend. You do need to want to know a little bit more about what it's like to live with dementia and then turn that understanding into something that could make a difference to people with dementia living in your community.

Attend an Information Session

Information Sessions are run by Dementia Friends Champions to help you understand what it's like to live with dementia and the actions you can take. Search for your nearest Information Session. What should I consider?

 Our Dementia Friends Champions are the volunteers who are leading the Dementia Friends initiative, helping other people to understand a little bit more about what it's like to live with dementia and the small things that can make a difference to people with dementia living in their communities.

While we actively welcome applications, we understand that being a Dementia Friends Champion is not a role that everyone is able to take on. Before you register as a Dementia Friends Champion and sign up to the Champions induction, please take a few minutes to consider if you meet the following criteria.

Are you 16 or over and do you live in England, Wales, Guernsey or the Isle of Man?

Are you interested in helping to spread the word about Dementia Friends?

Do you have the time to commit to taking a day-long induction and then to run Friends Information Sessions in your community?

Could you contribute to Dementia Friends by sharing stories about your Friends' Information Sessions and what is working well?

If you have answered yes to all, or most of, the above then you could make a great Dementia Friends Champion. But before you register you should also understand what a Dementia Friends Champion is not. While we expect most people who attend one of our Dementia Friends Champions induction courses to go on to be a successful Champion, the role is not for everyone.

A Dementia Friends Champion is not:

an expert in dementia or dementia care

a replacement for skilled, trained people such as nurses or care assistants

someone who goes into people's homes or provides care to people with dementia outside their existing relationship.

a ‘befriender' of people living with dementia

someone who has had a criminal record check in order to become a Dementia Friends Champion (although some may have them already)

an Alzheimer's Society volunteer (although some Dementia Friends Champions may choose to become one or be one already)

an Alzheimer's Society contractor or representative.

If you have decided that being a Dementia Friends Champion is not for you at the moment, you can register now to become a Dementia Friend and register as a Dementia Friends Champion at a later point, if you wish.

President Michael thanked Nicola for her informative talk on a difficult subject, which is affecting all aspects of society today.

'What We Do' Main Pages:

Information about club membership

more  

Information on the club

more  

International Committee

more  

Fund raising for local charities

more  

Our club engages with local schools in a number of initiatives, which benefit young people in Nantwich.

more  
Weeding in Nantwich riverside

The environment is Rotary's newest Area of Focus from July 2021.

more