Dementia awareness champions at Abbotswood Court in Romsey have been hosting free dementia information sessions for members of the local community.
Abbotswood Court, a luxury care home and retirement development, is encouraging others to make a positive difference to the lives of those living with dementia in Romsey. Open to the public, they host regular sessions which give attendees information about the personal impact of dementia, and what they can do to help. Currently, there are 850,000 people with dementia in the UK, with numbers set to rise to over 1 million by 2025.
A voluntary member of the Alzheimer’s Society’s, Dementia Friends Champion programme, Debbie Holmes, the Homes Admissions Advisor at Abbotswood Court, has been delivering the free information sessions. Held on the last Friday of the month, she utilises her experiences from working in a care home to help local people understand what it’s like to live with dementia and the actions they can take to support people in the community. She also arranges further sessions for individuals, local companies and organisations who want to find out more about supporting dementia sufferers.
Debbie Holmes said:
“At Abbotswood Court we know there are lots of ways for us to help people with dementia live full and happy lives. As a Dementia Friends Champion, I feel privileged to be spreading awareness in the Romsey community in a way that will support local people living with dementia.”
Alongside their Dementia Friends sessions, Abbotswood Court host a regular Forget Me Not Café. This provides a relaxed environment for local people to meet the Abbotswood team who chat, give guidance, information and signpost other support groups in the area. It also provides opportunities for people to meet relatives of residents who have experienced the concerns of a loved one with dementia and chat over tea or coffee.
Abbotswood Court is a new modern care home set in beautifully landscaped gardens in Romsey. It provides accommodation and individual care for older people with a range of needs including dementia.
