Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Dementia bus rolls into Taunton

AUNTON supermarket shoppers were invited to ‘Look after your Memory’ yesterday as part of National Dementia Awareness Week which runs until Friday.

Advisors from the Alzheimer’s Society, NHS Somerset and Somerset County Council were at the Sainsbury’s supermarket in Hankridge to offer free advice and information on the condition which is estimated to affect over 750,000 people in the UK.

Visitors to the Big Blue Dementia Bus were shown:

- How to look after and even improve their memory

- Tips and strategies to support those who feel they may be experiencing some memory loss

- Advice and information on the condition to family carers

- Advice on the importance of early diagnosis of dementia.

Jan Hull, Deputy Chief Executive with NHS Somerset, said: “As people live longer and generally healthier lives in Somerset, so we expect to see a growing proportion of people developing dementia in their very old age.

“Statutory and voluntary agencies are working in partnership to meet the health and social needs of people with dementia and ensure support to their carers.

“The Big Blue Dementia Bus offered visitors computerised ‘memory games’, information DVDs and plenty of practical information to take away.

“We want people to understand more about memory problems and better access the support which is available in Somerset.”

In Somerset, it is estimated that there are 7,640 people with dementia of which 145 are aged under 65.

For more information visit www.alzheimers.org.uk/

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