Dementia Active

The Dementia Active Guide: Supporting people living with Dementia by Melissa Fazackerley is an overview of a dementia service set up by a small charity, Dementia Active. In 2022 the charity established its own independent centre in Banbury, North Oxfordshire with the aim of supporting not only people living with dementia but crucially their carers. It provides small activity groups which focus on engaging people in activities which are enjoyable but which as importantly, stimulate brain activity using cognitive stimulation techniques. The benefits overall are raised energy levels and improved cognition. Dementia is an illness which can isolate people from former friends, therefore spending time with others who can share this sense of isolation is invaluable. The aim is to create a sense of community where no one need feel apologetic or uncomfortable about not being able to do those things which in the past would have been straightforward. Of equal value is the respite time sessions give carers. The opportunity to maintain friendships and interests is vital to maintaining wellbeing and ultimately it staves off the point at which families have no option but to turn to residential services for their loved one. Of necessity the Guide is just a brief outline of different aspects of working with dementia as the subject is vast. It has been written with the purpose of supporting professional practice within the Centre but it also provides a template for how to grow a similar service anywhere in the country. Dementia Active started in December 2018 with just three members meeting weekly in a village hall. It now has over a hundred members attending the Centre and is in the process of expanding to other areas. It was important to the charity from the outset that the sessions and transport costs are paid for by donations from families rather than a set fee. In other words, no one is excluded from attending due to an inability to pay. Equally it was important for the Centre to be self funding and not dependent upon financial support from public bodies. www.dementiactive.co.uk Charity No 1195246