Ridgeway Rise Celebrate Dementia Awareness Week 2022

Ridgeway Rise Care Home has been hard at work celebrating Dementia Awareness Week and supporting others battling the condition as they teamed up with The Swindon Dementia Action Alliance to raise awareness around Swindon and help support those newly diagnosed with dementia.

Dementia Awareness Week is one of the most important dates on the calendar for those working in the care industry with it estimated that over 650,000 people in England are living with dementia and many of those eventually requiring round-the-clock care at a care home such as Swindon’s Ridgeway Rise.

Teaming up with The Swindon Dementia Action Alliance demonstrates the significant steps that Ridgeway Rise are taking to try and make Swindon a more dementia-friendly community, whilst the prince of Swindon’s deputy mayor, MP, and emergency service representatives highlights the importance of these events.

The 16th of May saw the beginning of this year’s Dementia Action Week, an annual awareness campaign run by the Alzheimers Society and in association with other organisations. 

This year’s theme was ‘diagnosis’ and the week-long events were curated to help encourage people to ‘act on dementia’.

Ridgeway Rise Care Home commenced its involvement in the week by attending a Dementia Information Expo event held by The Swindon Dementia Action Alliance. 

It was clear from touring the event that there were several people who are just at the start of their dementia journey, and having just been diagnosed, felt a little bit left in the dark and unsure what to do next. 

This is often the case for many people who have been newly diagnosed, but it was great to see so many wonderful people getting out and talking about their condition, rather than remaining stuck indoors.

The expo was brilliant at highlighting what options are out there for people living with dementia along with offering information, guidance, and most importantly reassurance to those diagnosed and their close circle of support.

The Police Community officers in attendance learned how to approach a person who is showing signs of dementia, such as issues with comprehension, confusion, and appearing to be lost or upset, which is a key skill for emergency service workers. 

Ridgeway Rise Care Home is proud to provide specialist dementia care in Swindon, and are huge advocates in offering support, care, understanding, and friendship to those living with dementia and their families.

The Swindon Dementia Action Alliance also organised an Afternoon Tea Party amongst other events, with Ridgeway Rise sponsoring Misha Dawn’s performance and attending the event alongside some of its residents living with dementia. 

The event was a fantastic and happy celebration of those living with dementia and saw over 100 guests, including the current Mayor of Swindon, join in with the party.

There was live music from Misha Dawn and Ridgeway Rise’s own Activity Coordinator, Alla, was entertaining guests with her piano. 

It was an absolutely brilliant atmosphere where people danced, laughed, made new friends, and indulged in tea, sandwiches, and retro sweets (including coconut ice and chocolate mice!), demonstrating the strength and courage of those living with dementia not letting it control their life.

This was Swindon’s prelude to its Platinum Jubilee celebrations starting this week and it was a real pleasure for Ridgeway Rise to be a part of. 

We can’t wait to get involved with other events in the community and continue to raise awareness for dementia throughout the rest of the year.

If you want to find out more about the specialist dementia care services that Ridgeway Rise provides then click HERE or visit www.ridgewayrise.com