Fareham & Gosport Dementia Action Group provide vital care in supporting vulnerable people. Attending a vintage tea dance event at St John’s Church in Fareham, organised by Home Instead Senior Care and the Fareham & Gosport Dementia Action Group, I joined nearly 100 people for an afternoon of tea, jazz and dancing to raise learn more about dementia and the work of the Dementia Action Group.
The Fareham & Gosport Dementia Action Group is part of a wider network of support groups across Hampshire, which aim to make their local area more dementia friendly and provide support to patients and their families.
There are currently an estimated 800,000 people with dementia in the UK. By 2040, the number of people with the condition is expected to double. Dementia costs the economy £23 billion a year, more than the costs of cancer, heart disease or stroke. By 2040, predicted costs are expected to treble.
The Government has earmarked £300 million for research and medical innovation, in order to back the country’s science and medical sectors to lead the way in discovering the next big breakthrough in dementia treatment. The annual investment in research is expected to double by 2025. The Government has made progress since 2010 on improving dementia care, support and research, with investment in research doubled, 100,000s of NHS staff have received specialist training and one million ‘Dementia Friends’ taking part in awareness sessions and events across the country.
Having trained as a Dementia Friend myself, I have learnt that Dementia is simply a terrible disease. It is impossible to imagine seeing loved ones slip away yet physically there, and every case is a personal tragedy for all the family and friends involved.
It was encouraging to see so many people, from all age groups and backgrounds, showing their support for the important work carried out by the Fareham & Gosport Dementia Action Group.
It is vital that everyone in our communities is supported. That is why I am holding a Senior Citizens Fair on November 25th at St John's Church Hall, 1 St Michael's Grove, PO14 1DN, from 3-5pm. The event will bring together local community organisations and clubs, with senior citizens from across Fareham, and is an excellent opportunity to meet neighbours and friends and to get involved in what Fareham has to offer. I urge people in Fareham to attend the Senior Citizen’s Fair on November 25th, which will give people an opportunity to meet their neighbours and to explore what’s available in their local area and community.