With over 90,000 people living with dementia in Scotland, Dementia Awareness Week is our annual opportunity to generate maximum exposure around dementia and change how Scotland talks about and sees dementia. The week runs from Monday 3 to Sunday 9 June and Alzheimer Scotland will be highlighting the support our localities currently provide, as well the importance of dementia research, the impact it can have and the vital need for new research volunteers. It’s only through research that we can learn more about dementia prevention and improve quality of life for people living with dementia, in our journey to ultimately finding a cure.
Our week will begin at Alzheimer Scotland Conference on the 3rd June, where I have invited 20 allied health professionals, and for those of you that know me, it will be no surprise to you but the AHP’s have been invited to enjoy the conference but also to work!
If you are at the conference, you will be able to join us at our AHP stand where we will be sharing our most recent information and there will be a range of AHP posters on display sharing innovative work being led by our AHP’s in Scotland.
However, for the first time ever, the conference is offering practical workshops that have been specifically tailored for people living with dementia and carers which will provide take-home advice and ideas, as well as an opportunity to attend one of our new AHP one-to-one clinics to discuss what matters to you.
So, if you are worried about falls, good footcare, eating well and keeping physically active? Perhaps you have questions about communication or looking for tips on how to adapt your everyday environment? We will have Allied Health Professionals waiting to answer your questions so if you would like to speak with a
- Dietitian
- Occupational Therapist,
- Physiotherapist,
- Podiatrist or
- Speech and Language Therapist
We will be delighted to answer your questions so come prepared with some questions and join us and have a blether during the conference.
We will be doing our usual “blog a day” starting on the 3rd June from a range of AHP’s and our Alzheimer Scotland nurse consultants. You can follow this at www.alzscot.org/talking_dementia
During the week allied health professionals will also be talking about dementia in Thurso, sharing films about the role of AHP’s in Dumfries, celebrating with dementia champions in Glasgow, sharing AHP work in dementia in Lanarkshire and supporting an event in Fife.
However, we know there will be other events being developed in Scotland, led by allied health professionals or supported by allied health professionals, so get in touch and let us know what you are doing.
We CAN all support #DementiaAwareness week in Scotland & here are 4 ideas to help you get started:
- Follow us at @AHPDementia sharing your hints and tips to living well with #dementia
- Follow our blog, Let’s talk about dementia, and join the conversation, reading what our contributors have to say at www.alzscot.org/talking_dementia. You can enter your email address to get new posts by email every Thursday.
- Let us know what you are doing for the week, connect with us on social media at #AHPConnectingPeople and #AHPScot, we would love you to share your work, ideas & events
- You could print and share our AHP postcard outlining our AHP Approach in dementia which you can find at www.alzscot.org/ahp
Contributor
Elaine Hunter
National AHP consultant, Alzheimer Scotland
@elainahpmh
AHPs across health and social care. 