By Jill Stocks
A number of events are taking place in Horsforth to mark Dementia Action Week, which aims to raise awareness of dementia and the support available for those affected by it.
Running from 18 to 24 May a number of informative and social events have been organised across the week by Dementia Friendly Horsforth in association with Home Instead and MHA Communities Horsforth.
There will be two dementia information sessions to start the week taking place on Tuesday 19; the first at 10am at Home Instead on Horsforth Town Street and the second at 5:30pm at the Community Hub.
On Wednesday the Home Instead Friendship and Entertainment Social takes place at Central Methodist Church on Town Street from 1pm to 3pm. There will be live music from Mark Memphis. There’s also a raffle, a quiz and refreshments and tickets are £5 each.
On Thursday, 21 May Calverlands Day Centre will be the venue for a dementia Music and Movement session from 11am to 12pm.
And in the evening The Old Kings Arms hosts the Dementia Friendly Horsforth quiz night and fundraiser from 8pm.
Rounding off the week is MHA Horsforth Walk and Talk; a short social walk starting from Fink Hill car park at 10:15am.
This week Dementia Friendly Horsforth announced its new patron; Journalist Andrew Edwards. The former Radio Leeds Breakfast show presenter has experience of the condition after his mother was diagnosed in 2018, and has subsequently recorded the journey they went through in an audio diary, ‘Mum and Me’, as well as being involved with raising awareness of Dementia through his work with various organisations.
Tracy Stones is from Dementia Friendly Horsforth and told us about the events coming up next week.
“We’re really proud as a Dementia Friendly Horsforth Group to be hosting Dementia Action Week again this year,” she said.
“We’ve got sessions and events raising awareness across the full week, including our fabulous Kings Arms quiz night, where we raise money and awareness alongside and people have a good time.”
Dementia Action Week will raise awareness of all types of dementia, which can affect sufferers from a young age, and will highlight the support available to carers and families.
“It’s about the carers and the people who are the infrastructure and the ecosystem of supporting people with dementia, but the message is that if we come together as a community we can show that lovely empathy and understanding and caring.
“It’s looking after the carers who look after people with dementia, because it’s hard. It’s a tough challenge and it’s a tough road.
“Key organisations already exist that are supportive of us and we work cross collaboratively with these organisations and we all help and support each other. We spread the news of what we’re doing and literally all the events are very open.”
Chris Calvert is Chair of Dementia Friendly Horsforth. He said:
“Dementia Friendly Horsforth works all year round raising awareness of Dementia in our community.
“We were established in 2015, and every year we mark Dementia Action Week by organising or supporting a number of events across our town.
“Around 1 million people are currently living with Dementia in the UK and this is estimated to rise to 1.4million by 2040. So it is vital that we raise awareness to help people to have a greater understanding of Dementia.
“Dementia Friendly Horsforth currently has 3 trained Alzheimer’s Society Ambassadors who are able to deliver information sessions and we will do doing this throughout Dementia Action Week.
“If you are from a local business or organisation and you’d like an information session please contact us at dementiafriendlyhorsforth@gmail.com and we can arrange.”
If you are interested in attending one of the information sessions you can contact Home Instead via their website to book.
Or if you are unable to attend those sessions but would like more information about dementia Right At Home North Leeds will be holding a session at their offices on Broadgate Lane on Wednesday 3rd June from 2pm to 3pm. Booking is essential via this https://www.rightathome.co.uk/leeds-north/contact-us/ link or telephone on 0113 3406000.
On Friday, 5 June the Grove Cinema will host a special screening, in association with Dementia Friendly Horsforth, of the film Lost For Words.
Starring Thora Hird and Pete Postlethwaite, the film explores a mother and son relationship and how it is affected as her mental condition deteriorates. The screening is free, but donations are welcomed, and there will be an interval with refreshments available.
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