Building A Dementia Friendly Maidstone

*Please share* For some people living with dementia, having something to twiddle calms and provides sensory stimulation. If anyone is willing to make any #twiddlemitts they would be very gratefully received and then distributed within the local community.

We’re experiencing hot weather in #Maidstone today with more to come over the next week or so. Those living with dementia can struggle with dehydration, so read this blog post by @alzheimerssoc for some top tips in helping your loved ones stay hydrated. alzheimers.org.uk/blog/how-suppo…

In addition to our stall, @FremlinWalk have also given us a unit to hold a @DementiaFriends Session, which lasts about 45 mins to an hour. It’s informal, interactive and involves learning more about dementia and the small ways you can help make our society more dementia friendly.

With thanks to @FremlinWalk, we will be holding an information stall next week. With this year’s #DAW theme centring around diagnosis, we wanted to have a stall so that those who may have concerns, or know someone who has recently been diagnosed, can seek support and guidance.

April’s newsletter is here! Feel free to subscribe to receive our newsletters directly to your inbox: mailchi.mp/89917d131f80/a…

Maidstone Leisure Centre hold an exercise group aimed at those with early onset Alzheimer’s on Fridays. Please get in touch with Louise Stevens to find out more!

Join @AlzSocSEEngland to discuss what we have learnt about infection control and people affected by dementia over the pandemic. The free event is on Tuesday, February 8, 9am-2pm at Village Hotel, #Maidstone. eventbrite.co.uk/e/covid-and-de…

Hidden Disabilities have teamed up with National Highways to create a free Sunflower for your vehicle. This Sunflower discreetly indicates that you, or someone in your vehicle has an impairment and may need additional support. hiddendisabilitiesstore.com/nationalhighwa…

August’s newsletter is here! Feel free to subscribe to receive our newsletters directly to your inbox: mailchi.mp/5ee753709958/n…

This is a wonderful book, which is aimed at school children, to explain dementia and encourage conversation. 💙

The final video for #DementiaActionWeek is from our Chair, Amy Turner-Ives. Amy rounds up the week discussing types of organisations that can apply for the symbol, @DementiaFriends Sessions and the @Training2careUK Virtual Dementia Tour that’s returning to #Maidstone in October.

“they will not forget how you make them feel” Why not contact us for a free @DementiaFriends awareness session? You’ll understand just how important that line is and how dementia can affect a person after the session 💙

Many organisations can apply for the Working To Become Dementia Friendly recognition symbol. @WMonckton are another business to hold this symbol and have done so since 2018. Solicitor Bekka Fuszard speaks about the pledges they made. #DementiaActionWeek2021

Help them call on the Government to provide quality social care, that is free and easy to access, no matter where you live, by signing their petition below. action.alzheimers.org.uk/page/80202/pet… (2/2)

The @alzheimerssoc’s focus for #DementiaActionWeek this year is seeking social reform to #CureTheCareSystem. With the right support people with dementia can live a good quality of life, doing what matters most to them for as long as possible. (1/2)

For our next video, we hear from @Albany_Funerals, who were one of the first businesses in the Maidstone area to be awarded the WTBDF recognition symbol. Owner Jo talks in the video below about why they made the decision to become dementia friendly. #DementiaActionWeek2021

We've been very fortunate to have received permission to share this short video with you all, which was filmed as part of an A-Level Film Studies course. If you have a few moments, please do take a look. youtu.be/NmSMjiXTpoQ

Next up in of the series of videos we have put together for #DementiaActionWeek, Kath from Crossroads Care talks about the adaptations people living with dementia have made during the pandemic and the small things that we can do to support them as lockdown restrictions ease.

BDFM are now on YouTube! All this week’s videos will be shared via both our social media platforms and via YouTube, so please feel free to share amongst your friends, families and colleagues. #DementiaActionWeek2021 youtube.com/channel/UCK8ka…

@OneMaidstone @MallMaidstone @FremlinWalk

Welcome to #DementiaActionWeek! Building A Dementia Friendly Maidstone are using this week to encourage more businesses to become dementia friendly. Here’s Ken Scott to explain why.