Dementia Forward, the new Ripon and Harrogate District community based dementia service held its official launch event recently during ‘ Dementia Awareness Week’ and introduced itself to the local community. The event was a huge success and attended by those who not only come across dementia in their everyday working life but also those who live with the disease.
The event was supported by local home care company Home Instead Senior Care, who service Harrogate, Ripon and Thirsk and understand how important it is to have the right support and advice easily accessible for those affected by dementia. Sheena Van Parys from Home Instead Senior Care commented ‘this was a great opportunity for us to get involved with such an innovative and progressive step towards everyone in the community working together to provide better services and understanding of the disease. With an ageing population dementia is on the increase and we will have more and more clients and their families who will need as much support as possible throughout the illness from organisations such as Dementia Forward’.
It is estimated that 3000 people in the Ripon and Harrogate District have a diagnosis of dementia and two thirds of these will be living in the community. Dementia is a long term illness and it is possible to live well with dementia if the right support is put in place.
Les Shepherd, aged 64, pictured here with his wife Diane and Jill Quinn of Dementia Forward, has dementia. Les joined the launch presentation having just completed the Acorn 60 mile bike ride with the support of a wellbeing worker from Dementia Forward.
Jill Quinn, spokesperson for Dementia Forward said:
we are delighted with the support received so far and the event was a great success. No one organisation can solve this growing problem, the key to providing the much needed support is partnership and working together. We are very grateful to Home Instead for sponsoring the event and have enjoyed working with them. Our aim is to provide ‘support for today and planning for tomorrow’ and we already have a range of services available, including befriending, support work and our local helpline.
For more information or to access the local Dementia Forward helpline:
Tel: 01765 601224
Email: info@dementiaforward.org.uk
