World Alzheimer's Month
September is World Alzheimer’s Month.
This year, the theme is ‘Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer.’
What is Dementia?
Dementia is a term used to describe a collection of symptoms that occur when certain diseases or conditions affect the brain. The symptoms can vary depending on which condition is causing the dementia.
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common types of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease targets the part of the brain that controls memory, language and thought. Alzheimer’s and dementia often get confused with one another, which can cause upset and confusion.
Noticing the signs and symptoms
Potential signs of dementia include:
- Difficulties with vision such as judging distance, colour, contrast and reading.
- Having trouble following or joining in conversations.
- Struggling to find the right words.
- Forgetting names of family and friends or objects.
- Losing things and being unable to retrace your steps.
- Poor judgment around money, for example, signing up to a door-to-door sales pitch when you wouldn’t usually do so.
- Forgetting to pay bills.
- Paying less attention to personal hygiene and grooming
- Becoming withdrawn from things you like to do socially e.g. not going to your weekly walking group.
- Becoming confused and paranoid – changes in your mood e.g. getting more upset or angry.
- Losing track of time or place. Everyone experiences Dementia differently and symptoms vary greatly, some may have few and others may have many of these symptoms.
Living Well with Dementia in Yorkshire:
Community Links provides three dementia services across Yorkshire:
Young Dementia Leeds:
The Young Dementia Leeds Service is a partnership between Community Links and Carers Leeds. They offer a range of wellbeing, holistic and mutual and peer support.
Young Dementia Leeds Hub offers respite care for younger people living with dementia. They provide a programme of activities using creative and imaginative approaches
The carers support, also ensure that family and carers are fully supported, have access to the relevant information to help them to continue to care and support their loved ones and themselves
Young Dementia Leeds have organised an array of activities and events throughout World Alzheimer’s Month. They will be celebrating the Dementia Café’s 4th Birthday on Saturday 10th September. This will include cake, tombola and even their resident DJ!
Later in the month, they have invited the BAME Health and Wellbeing Hub to come for afternoon tea. A chance for the two services to get together and support each other.
Kirklees Dementia Hub
Kirklees Dementia Hub is a partnership between Community Links and Age UK Calderdale and Kirklees. They provide information and advice for those living with dementia, their carers, families, and friends. Kirklees Dementia Hub aim to ensure people within the Kirklees community have access to a wide range of dementia information and advice.
They offer support through telephone consultations, face to face appointments and home visits. Post diagnosis support is also available, and Kirklees Dementia Hub offer a Dementia Friends session too.
Calderdale Dementia Hub
Calderdale Dementia Hub is a partnership between Community Links and Age UK Calderdale and Kirklees. They provide information and advice to people in Calderdale of any age diagnosed with dementia, their friends, family, and carers.
The hub offers one to one appointments with individuals diagnosed with dementia and their loved ones through weekly community settings, by telephone or home visits.
Support Lines
Dementia Connect Support Line – 0333 150 3456 for information, support and advice
Talking Point – Online Community
Dementia Information and Advice Line – 01422 399 833
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