Sensory celebrations at Batley Library to mark Kirklees Dementia Action Week

Dementia Action Week is back in Kirklees with a range of support available to anyone looking for help and advice on how to manage the condition.

Batley Library will be hosting a festive event on Friday 17th May from 10.30am-12.30pm for the Sensory Blankets Projects. The project ran earlier this year where volunteers knitted a variety of woolen items which were given to people living with dementia to keep them at ease.

Woolley artwork

Meet and Mend CIC, who led the project, will display the blankets and ticks from the project, using them as an opportunity to raise awareness of dementia. Anyone visiting can also speak to a range of support services who will be on hand to offer advice and guidance to people living with dementia and their carers.

Library resources

People can also access the library’s dementia resources; learn about the Home Library Service; and browse a curated collection of Living with Dementia. Nationally, the Reading Agency will launch a list of books about dementia support.

Other events this week

There are also sessions for carers this week where Kirklees Wellness Service will be promoting their ‘Someone with Memory Impairment’ sessions. Sessions on building resilience are also available for anyone who needs a helping hand in caring for a loved one. All are free events for unpaid carers.

Tuesday the 14th^th May – Virtual Lunch and Learning Session – Wellness sessions for caregivers, specifically Caring for Someone with Memory Impairment. Booking is done through Carers Count.

Wednesday the 15th^th May 18:00-20:00 – Resilience Building Session at Brian Jackson House, Huddersfield. Book through Kirklees Wellness Service.

Wednesday 22^when May 13:00-15:00 – Caring for someone with memory impairment session, Dewsbury Fire Station. Book through Kirklees Wellness Service.

Richard Parry, strategic director for adults and health, said:

“It is important that we continue to help people in Kirklees know the signs and symptoms of dementia and highlight how they can access the support they need for themselves or a loved one. An aging population means residents who are diagnosed early are more likely to be able to live independently with appropriate support. That’s why we’re refreshing the Kirklees Memory Monitoring Pack, used by doctors to diagnose dementia and refer people to the right professional support.

“Through Dementia Action Week we are reaffirming our commitment to making Kirklees a dementia friendly place. Our collaboration with the Dementia Service Development Center at the University of Stirling has resulted in the development of a dementia design guide to help people make their homes, places and local services dementia friendly.

“We have already implemented parts of this guidance and it is central to our redevelopment of the dementia day care units at Knowl Park House in Mirfield.”

Kirklees Dementia Hub

Anyone who needs advice about dementia can contact Kirklees Dementia Hub, who can help people navigate the services available. They run a weekly dementia group for under 65s and a monthly action and discussion group. For more information contact them on 01484 503 908 or email: [email protected].