Alzheimer’s Society Cymru reaches out to underrepresented communities at this year’s conference
Alzheimer’s Society Cymru’s annual conference will welcome approximately 200 delegates, a quarter of whom will be people who are affected by dementia and will include, key health and social care professionals from across the country
The focus of the conference will be to examine the challenges faced by Wales to reach everyone affected by dementia – whoever they are and wherever they live.
The conference – held on 12 March 2020 in Venue Cymru, Llandudno – will celebrate successes but will also acknowledge there’s much work to be done for Wales to become a truly dementia-friendly nation, by focussing on key areas of under-representation and harder to reach communities. Talks and workshops led by professionals in the field as well as people living with or affected by dementia will aim to inspire positive action and will cover topics such as:
- Living with dementia in rural communities
- Dementia and learning disabilities
- Dementia in LGBT+ communities
- End of life and dementia.
The theme of dementia and the Welsh language, and how to provide person-centred care for people that communicate through the medium of Welsh, will be examined by keynote speaker Catrin Hedd Jones, a lecturer in Dementia Studies at Bangor University. Catrin said:
“I’m delighted to be invited to speak at the Alzheimer’s Society Cymru Conference in Llandudno. It is vitally important that we share best practice about person-centred care throughout the journey with dementia for people that communicate through the medium of Welsh.”
Another keynote speaker, Rt Hon Liz Saville Roberts MP, Westminster leader of Plaid Cymru, will discuss the provision of access to health and social care services for those living with and affected by dementia in rural communities. She said: “I am delighted to address delegates at Alzheimer’s Society Cymru’s annual spring conference this year on the subject of dementia in rural communities across Wales.
“Living in rural Wales is wonderful, but too many people in these areas face dementia alone and isolated, without access to quality care and support, transport links and community amenities. It is therefore increasingly important for those people living with dementia that community councils, businesses, local authorities, charities, health practitioners and individuals unite to address the issues associated with rural living to ensure that everyone, in every corner of the country, gets the support they need and deserve.”
Other talks on the day include the topic of adapting dementia services and support for the British Sign Language/Deaf community and for those who are hard of hearing – led by Carolyn Denmark, George Rook and Maggie Hampton, all of whom have varying experiences of living with hearing loss and dementia and caring for family members with dementia.
Dementia Champions, Karen and Robert Beattie, Welsh speakers who deliver Dementia Friends Information and Awareness Sessions in their native language, will co-deliver a session on their work to date – which includes making over 400 Dementia Friends.
Robert was diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2017. The couple now travel all across Wales delivering sessions to communities – from schools to colleges and local business on the high street.
“We both feel that it is imperative that the Welsh community learn about dementia and that it is not a condition that they should be ashamed of, and to remove the stigma that exists.”
The conference will also launch a new pre-bereavement project: ‘Supporting loss along the journey with dementia’ – a collaboration between Alzheimer’s Society Cymru and Cruse Bereavement Care, who have worked together since 2016 to support those bereaved and affected by dementia.
An extension of an existing project – ‘Bereaved by Dementia’ – this new initiative will focus on improving access to pre-bereavement support for people with dementia, as well as for those who care for someone with dementia (including children and young people). The project will support people diagnosed with all forms of dementia, as well as their families, in managing and better coping with these feelings of loss, from diagnosis onwards.
Alzheimer’s Society Cymru Country Director Sue Phelps said: “Dementia is the biggest health crisis facing us today. Our conference theme this year – Impact and Reach – will focus on Alzheimer Society Cymru’s determination to reach each and every person affected by dementia in Wales – no matter who they are or where they live in the country, and to make Wales a truly dementia-friendly nation.
“Everyone’s experience of dementia is unique. But some members of society, including those living with learning disabilities, members of the LGBT+ and the BSL/Deaf communities, as well as those who live in remote rural areas and whose first language is Welsh, for example, might face extra barriers.
“This conference gives us an important opportunity to look at good practice as well as how we can best develop appropriate and accessible services and support that breaks down those barriers, to reduce isolation, empower every person with dementia in Wales and to help them live well.”
Co-host of the day, alongside Country Director Sue Phelps, will be Jim Ibell, 75, an Ambassador for Alzheimer’s Society who lives in Flintshire. Jim, who was diagnosed with dementia in March 2016, said he was “honoured” to be co-host at this year’s conference.
Alzheimer’s Society is here for anyone affected by dementia. For support, information and advice call Dementia Connect on 0333 150 3456 or 03300 947 400 – our Welsh speaking line or email dementia.connect@alzheimers.org.uk
