Dementia Awareness Week

Next week (29 May – 4 June) is Dementia Awareness Week. This year the aim of the week is to reduce the stigma people with dementia continue to face.

Dementia does not define someone. It is one thing about a person, not everything. People with dementia can learn new things, continue with work and hobbies and live a full, enjoyable life.

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.

This Dementia Awareness Week, Alzheimer Scotland are encouraging people to hold a ‘Tea and Blether’ event to raise money and awareness for people living with dementia. You can find more information about holding an event here.

There are also many other ways to get involved in the conversation. Several events are being held across the Scottish Borders to give people the chance to talk about dementia and reduce the stigma surrounding it. You can find details of these events in the table below.

Christine Proudfoot, Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Nurse Consultant, said: “Dementia Awareness Week is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of dementia in the Borders. This includes those who are worried about their memory, those seeking a diagnosis and those looking to access support.

“I meet and hear from people living with dementia every day, and therefore know just how important it is that we all do our bit to support people with dementia to live well here in our local communities. Please consider attending one of our events or hosting one of your own ‘Tea and Blether’ events to get involved in the conversation and help raise awareness of dementia.”

For more information about local support available in the Borders, contact Alzheimer Scotland Borders on 01573 400 324 or email borders@alzscot.org.

Please see events taking place on Dementia Awareness Week below:

Date/time	Venue	Event	Lead organiser
Monday 29 May 2023 1100-1300	Floors Castle – Walled Garden ticket kiosk Roxburgh St, Kelso TD5 7RL	Walking and talking about Dementia to reduce stigma	Lyndsay Hornigold 01573 400324
Tuesday 30 May 2023 1030-1530	Mayfield Garden Centre Kelso Glebe Lane, Roxburghshire, Kelso, TD5 7AU	Information Table - Talking about Dementia and reduce stigma	Lyndsay Hornigold 01573 400324
Wednesday 31 May 2023 1030-1430	St Boswells Village Hall Jenny Moore's Rd, St Boswells, Melrose TD6 0AA	Open day Information session -Join us to talk about Dementia and reduce stigma	Lyndsay Hornigold 01573 400324
Wednesday 31 May 2023 1300-1600	Borders General Hospital Melrose TD6 9BS   (table at bottom of stairs)	Information session –Drop in to talk about Dementia and reduce stigma	Christine Proudfoot/Susanne Kennedy
Thursday 1 June 2023 1000-1300	Heart of Hawick Kirkstile, Hawick TD9 0AE	Drop into the What Matters Hub to talk about dementia and reduce stigma	David Henderson 01573 400324

Thursday 1 June 2023 1000-1600	Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Resource Centre 19 Bridge Street Kelso TD5 7HT	Tea/Coffee and cakes.  Talking about dementia and reduce stigma	Lyndsay Hornigold 01573 400324
Friday 2 June 1000-1500	Asda store Currie Road Galashiels TD1 2AG	Information session –Drop in to talk about Dementia and reduce stigma with Action on Rights team	Gayle Thomson 01573 400324

Friday 2 June 2023 1300-1600

Borders General Hospital Melrose TD6 9BS (table at bottom of stairs)

Information session –Drop in to talk about Dementia and reduce stigma

Christine Proudfoot