If you or somebody you know lives with dementia, it doesn't have to make you feel cut off from society.
Dementia is something we should be tackling together and that's why we're acting.
From the 20th to the 26th May, the Alzheimer's Society is working to unite people across the community for Dementia Action Week and the All about Home Care team will be doing our bit to spread the word.
We want to make people who deal with dementia on a day-to-day basis feel welcome.
Loneliness and dementia
Loneliness affects a third of people who live with dementia; this is even more acute among those with the condition who live alone, with two-thirds of them reporting they feel isolated. We strongly believe that it doesn't have to be this way; we all have a role to play in society to help those affected by dementia to live their best lives, and that's what Dementia Action Week is all about.
Luckily for us, the local Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge area is full of dementia-friendly activities to help support people affected by the condition, allowing them to enjoy their lives to the fullest and feel welcome and accepted. We encourage anybody and everybody to get involved with dementia action activities across West Kent and to show support for people affected by dementia.
Local events in support of Dementia Action Week
If you want to help support local dementia groups, then this May is the time to start. One of the easiest events to get involved with is the Sevenoaks Run, walk or push against dementia on Sunday 12th May. The event will be held in the grounds of Knole Park, Sevenoaks, encouraging people to take part in a charity 3km, 5km or 10km run, walk or push (hence the name!). Entry prices are £13 for both the 3km and 5km races, £18 for the 10km, with children racing for just £5. The money will all go towards Sevenoaks Area Dementia Community a group of local businesses, including All About Home Care, local residents, local charities dedicated to making the Sevenoaks area more dementia friendly through a number of initiatives.These include forget-me-not cafes, cinema screening, awareness events and a forget-me-note singing group.
At Forget-Me-Notes we welcome anyone to come and sing along with a cuppa. The event is completely free and we meet on the third Thursday of every month in Sevenoaks, including the 16th May. We encourage all people with dementia, their carers, friends and family to come and join us for a good sing along at the Church Hall of Christ Church URC on Littlecourt Road.
An ongoing event run by All About Home Care is the Find Your Voice singing group, which meets every Friday at the Church Hall of All Saints in Langton Green (including throughout May) between 2.00pm to 4.00pm. The sessions the designed to be fun and beneficial, particularly for people with dementia and conditions such as Parkinson's and MS, as well as those recovering from strokes.
The May Day Monday Memory Mile Walk for Dementia took place on the 6th May this year in support of Tonbridge Dementia Action Week, encouraging anybody and everybody affected by dementia to walk a mile round the Haysden Country Park lake in memory and in support of people living with dementia.
Taking part in Dementia Action Week can be a great way to help raise money to improve the lives of people living with dementia and to get involved and show that they aren't alone. If you know anybody that lives with the condition, then encourage them to get involved in one of our groups to help them feel more connected to our local Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge communities.