Hammersmith & Fulham Council marked Dementia Action Week in May with an information fair and afternoon tea for residents living with dementia.
The afternoon of fun was made possible with help from local partners H&F Dementia Action Alliance, West London NHS Trust and the Hurlingham Club Foundation, who also hosted the event.
Making support accessible
More than 170 residents attended and browsed information stalls from charities including Alzheimer's Society, Age UK H&F, and DanceWest.
They also celebrated the launch of our new H&F Dementia Academy, a learning network for residents and organisations to share ideas and support the development of an evolving, dementia focused, curriculum.
Sessions include Good Life With Dementia, a course for residents who have recently been diagnosed, and Vision, Values and Nutrition, in-person training for care home staff, carers, care home residents and their families.
Easy access to information was a priority identified by residents when co-producing H&F's dementia strategy.
Our work to meet this priority has included our H&F Dementia Guide and drop in sessions and nurse drop-in consultations at MindSports Wellbeing Centre.
Building a community
The definite highlight of the day was a song performance – with coordinated hand movements – created by residents living with dementia.
The musical performance was choreographed during a 10-week programme with the Royal College of Music, English Touring Opera and Lyric Hammersmith's Turtle Key Arts.
Peggy Coles from H&F Dementia Action Alliance said:
"May's dementia fair and afternoon tea was so important for our residents because it acknowledged the valued contribution that people with dementia and their carers make to our local community. And it also highlighted the work in H&F that is being done to improve the lives of people impacted by dementia."
Year round support
H&F is working with local residents and partners to deliver support all year long and in 2023 we were recognised by Alzheimer's Society for our work to become a dementia friendly community.
Our work includes Tuesday Club, a timetable of memory cafes that take place across the borough, and our Active Minds programme of inclusive and dementia friendly activities.
