A dementia-friendly event is being held in the community hall of New Radnor to help raise awareness of dementia.
It's estimated that 4,195 people in Powys over the age of 65 have dementia, while in Wales the number is predicted to be 76,544.
The event ties in with the planned re-opening of The Radnor Arms pub, where the hope is that more can be done to support those in the village with dementia, and those who may know people with dementia.
A dementia friend ambassador will greet people from 11 a.m. to discuss dementia, and how a community can band together to support someone affected by dementia. They are offering the opportunity for people to become 'dementia friends', in the hope that the village will become a dementia-friendly village.
The aim of the event is to raise awareness of dementia and to make New Radnor a compassionate village.
Martin Lewis, Chair of the Radnor Arms Limited Community Benefit Society, said: We have established a Community Benefit Society (CBS) dedicated to reopening the Radnor Arms Hotel, New Radnor’s last pub. We are passionate about the pub providing services that are underpinned by the ethos of ‘for the community by the community’ and want it to offer more than just a pint.
"We want it to support social inter-generational connections, a place where people can meet, where support networks are established, where people never feel lonely, and where everyone is welcome. As we plan to open the pub, we need to consider what we can do to make sure people living with dementia, and their carers, are supported to remain active members of our community. It’s great to see that our community Hub will be raising awareness of Dementia during Coffee Morning on the 21st of September. Many of us will know someone or is caring for someone living with dementia and it’s important that we, and society as a whole, gain a better understanding of how we can improve people’s lived experience.
"Gaining a better understanding of what it is like to live with dementia can help us create a truly compassionate community, one in which all of us can support someone with the condition to live well."
Dementia is a group of symptoms. It’s caused by different diseases that damage the brain. The symptoms get worse over time and include memory loss, confusion or needing daily help with tasks, problems with language and understanding, and changes in behaviour.
A report in 2019 by the Alzheimer's Society and the London School of Economics and Political Science found that there are over 900,000 people in the UK with dementia.
The event is held on Thursday the 21st of September, World Alzheimer's Day, from 10 am.
