Town takes first step to being dementia friendly (From The Bolton News)

Town takes first step to being dementia friendly

8:55am Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News

DEMENTIA can affect anybody at any age and can be devastating for the sufferers and their families.

But now people in Bolton are set to have more support for the illness after the town took the first step to becoming dementia friendly.

At an event involving an audience of 150 health professionals and a range of speakers, including doctors and academics to carers and people living with dementia, the Bolton Dementia Partnership has been launched.

It aims to raise the profile of dementia across Bolton, improve the lives of people with the condition and increase diagnosis rates.

In Bolton, there are thought to be 3,027 people with dementia, but only 1,778 of those have been diagnosed.

Enid Grundy, who has cared for her husband since he was diagnosed with dementia two years ago, said the launch was “positive” as meant there would be more information about dementia.

Mrs Grundy, aged 74, from Bromley Cross added: “The change in my husband is quite sad really.

“It upsets me at times when I think what a healthy man he was. We used to have a good night kiss and cuddle and all that has all gone now and he doesn’t realise, he doesn’t remember.”

A leaflet has been created by dementia sufferer Norman McNamara, who was diagnosed five years ago, aged just 50.

Mr McNamara, who lived in Astley Bridge until he moved to Torquay 13 years ago, said he wanted to reduce the stigma surrounding dementia.

He added: “I am living with dementia, not dying from it. I intend to show the world that people can live a good life with dementia.”

Dr Stephen Liversedge, Bolton CCG clinical director, said: “A dementia friendly town is about raising awareness about these issues and spring people with dementia to live happy and fulfilled lives in the community.

Dr Liversedge said the event placed the town “ahead of the rest of the country in its initiatives to address the growing challenge of dementia”.

The Bolton Dementia Partnership is hosting two events for the public to find about information available for people with dementia and their carers, and how dementia is becoming a dementia friendly town.

They are on Thursday, March 21, between 5.30pm and 6.30pm and Wednesday, April 3, between 2pm and 3pm, in Lecture Theatre Two at Bolton Library.

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