World Alzheimer’s Month
World Alzheimer’s Day takes place on 21st September every year and is part of World Alzheimer’s Month; it raises international awareness of the condition, as well as breaking the stereotypes and myths that surround a person when they receive a diagnosis of dementia.
To support this, our homes organised events and activities involving residents, families and staff to raise money towards the essential work of the Alzheimer’s Society in the UK. Many of our residents and staff chose to join locally held sponsored memory walks, including the staff and residents at Elvy Court in Sittingbourne, Kent, who raised a fantastic sum of over £1,150. Other homes arranged quizzes or entertainment afternoons, inviting families and friends to join residents and staff in their fundraising efforts.
Heather Perkins, our Dementia Support Advisor, Avery’s Playlist for Life Trainer and Senior Dementia Friends Champion, created more dementia friends within our organisation, this time at our Group Support Centre. Colleagues at our Northampton base attended information awareness sessions, which give an insight into the experience of living with dementia. Dementia Friends sessions are also regularly held in many of our care homes for family members of both residents and staff, and any other interested parties perhaps looking for a care home for their loved one. Anyone who wishes to consider becoming a dementia friend is invited to contact Heather Perkins, via our Group Support Centre.
Taking an international approach, our Head of Customer Engagement, Lindsey Scott-Walker, challenged herself to the Alzheimer’s Society trek in Peru. Following months of training and fundraising at home, Lindsey joined 16 fellow trekkers on the Ancascocha Trail in the Peruvian Andes; walking for 12 hours a day, battling snow, scorching sun and altitude sickness they reached their final destination of Machu Picchu after a gruelling five days. Together the group raised a truly stunning £100,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society to continue researching cure and care for those living with dementia in the UK.
Lindsey said, “This has been a life-changing experience and without doubt the most physically, mentally and emotionally challenging thing I have ever done. I would like to thank my colleagues at Avery for all their support and generous sponsorship for contributing to our fantastic final total.”
Article by Jo Crossland, Head of Dementia Care for Welcome Home Issue 12.
