Dementia Awareness Week

This year Dementia Awareness Week, which runs from 3 – 9 June 2019, is focusing on the theme of local support and dementia research.

There are currently over 90,000 people in Scotland living with a dementia diagnosis, so it's likely that dementia has touched your life - you might have been diagnosed with dementia yourself or have a loved one, friend or neighbour who is living with the condition.

That's why this year's theme of local support is so important. Throughout Dementia Awareness Week we will be hosting various events to encourage people to get together, speak about dementia and find out about the support on offer in the Borders.

There is a variety of dementia support available all year round. One major local resource is the welcoming and easily accessible Alzheimer Scotland Borders Dementia Resource Centre on Bridge Street in Kelso, which provides access to information and resources. Their Dementia Friends awareness sessions give a basic understanding of what it's like to live with dementia.

Across the Borders there is a range of community activity groups providing opportunities for people living with dementia; their carers; families and friends to come together in an informal and relaxed setting for information and peer support (e.g. monthly Dementia Cafés in Duns, Kelso, Hawick and Jedburgh).

A Befriending Service offers regular contact between trained volunteers, and people living with dementia, who have shared interests or hobbies such as knitting, walking, playing golf or just going for a coffee and a chat.

Christine Proudfoot, Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Nurse Consultant at NHS Borders, said: "Dementia is becoming increasingly common as life expectancy continues to rise and we live longer. That's why it's crucial that we awareness of dementia and ensure that nobody has to face dementia alone.

"During Dementia Awareness Week we look forward to connecting with individuals and communities across the Borders at information sessions, coffee mornings and open days. Please pop along and chat to us if you can – together we can all contribute to a more Dementia friendly Borders.

"Of course, this is just part of what we do, we also work hard to encourage early diagnosis and increase uptake of the post diagnostic support that's available for patients and their families. This helps to ensure that our services fit the needs of the people of the Borders."

For more information about local events for Dementia Awareness Week please visit https://daw.alzscot.org/

For more information about local support available in the Borders contact Alzheimer Scotland Borders on 01573400324 or e-mail borders@alzscot.org

Local Dementia Awareness Week events:

Date/Time	Venue	Event
10am-2pm Monday 3 June	Asda, Currie Road, Galashiels, TD1 2AG	Information Session - Join us to talk about Dementia
10am-2pm Monday 3 June	Galashiels Day Unit, 10 Sime Place, Galashiels, TD1 1ST	Open Day Information Session - Join us to talk about Dementia
10am-1pm Monday 3 June Tuesday 4 June Wednesday 5 June	Resource Centre Borders Services, 19 Bridge Street, Kelso, TD5 7HT	Purple Plant Sale and a drop-in for a coffee and chat about Dementia
10:30am-12pm Tuesday 4 June	Poynderview Day Unit, Inch Road, Kelso, TD5 7JP	Coffee Morning - cakes and a chat about Dementia
10am-12pm Tuesday 4 June	Coldstream Health Centre, Kelso Road, Coldstream, TD12 4LQ	Information Session - Join us to talk about Dementia
10am-2pm Tuesday 4 June	Firholm Day Unit, Innerleithen Road, Peebles, EH45 8BD	Open Day Information Session - Join us to talk about Dementia
Tuesday 4 June	Plexus, Pinnaclehill Industrial Estate, Kelso, TD5 8XX	"Plexus in Purple" - Wear purple to show support and raise awareness for Dementia
10am-4pm Wednesday 5 June	Morrisons, Mart Street Roundabout, Hawick, TD9 9NQ	Information Session - Join us to talk about Dementia
10am-12pm Wednesday 5 June	Co-op, 30-40 High Street, Dickson's Yard, Eyemouth, TD14 5EU	Information Session - Join us to talk about Dementia
10am-2pm Wednesday 5 June	Borders General Hospital, Melrose, TD6 9BS	Information Session - Join us to talk about Dementia
1pm-4pm Wednesday 5 June	Galashiels Health Centre, Currie Road, TD1 2UA	Information Session - Join us to talk about Dementia