This is a time of the year when the Alzheimer’s Society encourages us all to speak openly about dementia and to highlight the importance of early diagnosis of the condition. Shockingly, the Alzheimer’s Society estimates that 1 in 3 people living with dementia do not have a diagnosis, and thus are not receiving the care and treatment they need in order to live well with the condition. That’s why weeks like this are so important when it comes to raising awareness of dementia, its symptoms, and how we can all help people living with it. 

Here at Avon Court, the team has been busy with fantastic events and activities that really helped get the positive message out there about living well with dementia. 

We have had quizzes, bingo, entertainers and a fantastic singer. Music is an incredibly powerful tool for helping prompt people living with dementia to reminisce, and that was the focus of the performance. All the residents wrote down their favourite songs and he sung them back to us; it was amazing to see everyone’s faces as he picked a song they loved, and everyone sang along. Music is such a powerful tool for spreading joy, and it was a privilege to see how happy singing together made our residents.

Dementia is such a challenging thing to live with, but events like Dementia Action Week really help to remind us that we must stand together and help each other through the toughest of times. I would like every week to be Dementia Action Week until the day we are able to say goodbye once and for all to this condition. 

Until that day, we will go on singing our favourite songs together. 

Until next time, Les