Stephen McPartland, Member of Parliament for Stevenage, opened the Dementia Discovery Week at the Lister Hospital. They are hosting a road show about dementia, its impact and the support available to families, with the public invited to come along all week and find out more.
Dementia already affects 800,000 people across the UK – including many local people and those who care for them. It is most often seen in older people – although this is not always the case.
Stephen McPartland MP said, "Dementia affects so many people in our area and the impact on the family is also incredibly difficult. I have heard so many heartbreaking stories and believe we must try to make our area more dementia-friendly, so we can improve the lives of those affected by dementia. A little more understanding could make a huge difference and Dementia Discovery Week can really help with this."
The team at the Lister Hospital will be running information booths for the public to come along and find out more about dementia and the support available to them. The stalls will include the Trust's volunteers, Age UK, the Alzheimer's society, Carers in Herts and Kissing it Better, a charity devoted to making a difference to the care of patients in hospital. Staff, patients and visitors can enjoy dance displays, hand massages and the public are also invited to daily teaching sessions about the need for empathy with dementia patients and to try on an ‘age suit’ – a body suit designed to help people understand what it feels to be elderly.
Click here if you would like to help Stephen make a difference
