A man living with dementia and a carer have created videos talking about the support they receive from the award-winning North Wales Memory Support Pathway.
At an event celebrating their involvement in Denbigh yesterday (Wednesday), David Glover and Doris Hughes encouraged others affected by dementia in North Wales to come forward and access the service.
One in three people born today will develop dementia in their lifetime. According to Welsh Government data, at least 42,000 people are living with dementia in Wales.
The North Wales Memory Support Pathway supports people who are worried about their memory, those who are living with dementia and their friends, family and loved ones. It is delivered through a partnership between Alzheimer’s Society, Carers Trust North Wales, Newcis and Carers Outreach, and funded by North Wales Health Board, Betsi Cadwallader University Health Board and the 6 North Wales Local Authorities.
In the videos, which are both Welsh and English, David and Doris talk about their experiences and how the Pathway has supported them. The pathway won an Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Involvement Award in September.
David, who is living with dementia, shares his experience of being referred to Memory Clinic through the pathway. In the video David speaks English, with Welsh subtitles.
He said: “I expected the worst. When you say Memory Clinic it conjures all sorts of negative things in your mind of people sitting in their own world in a chair somewhere. I thought there’d be someone who was banging their head against the wall. When I got there, they were people like me. I thought I’d walked into the wrong room. I saw normality, not a load of people in their own worlds.”
Carer Doris and her husband, who is living with dementia, attend the Dementia Centre in Denbeigh, which is part of the pathway and where the celebration took place.
Doris, who spoke in Welsh with English subtitles, said: “We go for the company more than anything, and a chance to chat to people going through the same thing. Some are a lot worse, I hear stories about people suffering terribly, but we’re ok. The staff at the center are good at chatting, and nothing is too much bother for them.
”By sharing their stories, David and Doris hope to promote the service, which provides dementia advice, guidance, support, and the opportunity to meet others who are living with dementia in a safe and friendly environment.
Alzheimer’s Society Head of Local Services Emma Spragg said: “We are proud to be co-delivering North Wales Memory Support Pathway, which is providing support for so many people affected by dementia in North Wales. We work seamlessly to make sure that people living with memory loss or a dementia diagnosis and their carers and family receive the right support at the right time.
“We give advice and practical guidance for the next steps as people living with dementia navigate the hardest times of their lives. Through this vital work, we want people living with dementia to enjoy their lives for as long as possible.”
To be referred into the North Wales Memory Support Pathway, call Carers Trust on 01492 542212.
Alzheimer’s Society Cymru is here for everyone affected by dementia. Call their Support Line on 0333 150 3456, if you speak Welsh call the Welsh-speaking support line on 03300 947 400, or visit alzheimers.org.uk
- Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading dementia charity. We provide help and hope to everyone affected by dementia – past, present and future.
- Dementia devastates lives, but it’s not an inevitable part of ageing. Alzheimer’s Society research shows that around a million people in the UK have a form of dementia. By 2040, 1.4 million people will be living with the condition in the UK, and many millions more carers, partners, families and friends affected.
- Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer, and one in three people born today will develop dementia in their lifetime.
- Too many face dementia alone. Alzheimer’s Society wants everyone affected by dementia to know that whoever they are, whatever they’re going through, they can turn to us for expert support through practical advice, emotional support, and guidance for the best next step.
- Alzheimer’s Society is the only UK dementia research charity to fund both biomedical and care research, funding research in dementia diagnosis, treatment and care, and is a funding partner of the UK Dementia Research Institute.
- We will not rest until people living with dementia and their carers live more fulfilled and less fearful lives, free from stigma and inequality.
- Alzheimer’s Society offers friendly support through a range of virtual and in-person services, including our Dementia Support Line (0333 150 3456), our online Dementia Support Forum, and Dementia Advisers.
- Alzheimer’s Society relies on voluntary donations to continue our vital work. You can donate now by calling 0330 333 0804 or visiting alzheimers.org.uk
- Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @Alzheimerssoc and Like us on Facebook.
- Alzheimer’s Society YouTube channel youtube.com/AlzheimersSociety
