Infirmary staff join forces with local carer groups to mark Dementia Awareness Week

Sister Rhiannon Lloyd from the Oasis Unit with Samantha Reece, nurse practitioner at the Urgent Care Centre at Rochdale Infirmary

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Staff at Rochdale Infirmary joined forces with local carer groups this week to support this year’s national Dementia Awareness Week with a range of events across the hospital for staff, patients and the public on Wednesday.

In addition to a variety of information stands and a series of training and awareness sessions, afternoon tea parties were arranged for patients and their families.

Dementia awareness staff training sessions were led by Dementia Consultant Nurse Janice McGrory, with over 80 staff at Rochdale Infirmary signing up to become a 'dementia friend'.

Ms McGrory said: “Improving dementia care often includes changing or challenging culture and beliefs, but by taking new approaches to caring for people with dementia, there are obvious benefits not only to the patient and carer, but for staff as well.”

Commenting on the event, Louisa Harkness-Hudson, clinical matron at Rochdale Infirmary, said: “The interest and involvement that has been shown by staff and our local partner agencies this week to support dementia awareness week is a true testament to the spirit felt here at Rochdale Infirmary. The dementia friend sessions that were held made us all think about dementia and the impact this has on everyone and how as a community we can make a difference.”

Dementia Awareness Week is supported by the Alzheimer's Society, the UK charity which provides support and research for those affected by dementia. In the UK there are about 800,000 people with dementia; it is estimated that around 400,000 people have dementia but do not know it.

By raising awareness about this condition, it is hoped that more people will be diagnosed earlier, giving more time for them to come to terms with future symptoms.