As many as 10,000 people could be living with dementia in Cornwall
Newquay is hosting a special conference, encouraging residents to seek support
Last updated 19th May 2022
Newquay is hosting a special event to encourage people to come for support with dementia this Dementia Action Week.
Figures show there are around 5,000 confirmed diagnoses of dementia in Cornwall, with the true total likely to be closer to 10,000.
A report has found stigma and fear to be the most common barrier to people seeking diagnosis and support when they are worried about memory loss, with the secondary reason being dismissal over people thinking it is a natural part of getting older.
Lynn has been working for Newquay Purple Angels, a support group for people with dementia, and Happy Voices, a group helping older people with music, since losing both her parents.
The volunteer has been raising awareness for most of her life and said: "Throughout COVID dementia was the second biggest killer, the second biggest cause of death. When I say that in my sessions that I do their jaw drops. People just don't realise".
"Dementia will affect us all"
Lynn added: "It'll either affect you personally, it'll either affect a member of your family, someone who lives down the road so it's just raising that awareness for them so that rather than think I wonder, have the skills and the knowledge to actually know.
"Music does remind people of things as well. I always say music is magic you know. I don't know if their memories are coming back or if they're just remembering the songs. You never know with people with dementia, it's so difficult to know".
Cornwall's Dementia Conference will be held on Thursday 19th May at the Atlantic Hotel in Newquay and one of the aims is to try and educate people on the topic and will focus on creative, non-medical help.
It is part of Dementia Action Week, raising awareness and urging people to 'act on dementia' to break down barriers and help people get an early diagnosis and support.
Guests at the event will include the Haylo Theatre, whose use theatre-led activities to encourage conversations about difficult subjects which affect many people’s lives, Memory Matters which explores Cognitive Stimulation Therapy in helping loved ones to stay mentally active and Musica Hail who use music in daily dementia care to improve quality of life.
The event will include four creative workshops to choose from in the afternoon, hosted by Cascade Theatre, the Sensory Trust, Art for Dementia, and University of Plymouth’s EPIC project.
Amanda Thompson, ESF Curriculum Developer for REACH Cornwall, said: "As a planning team, we decided early on that this was going to be a conference with a difference! We wanted the delegates to leave at the end of the day with a sense of wellbeing and optimism.
"We wanted to ensure the content was different, upbeat and interesting. We settled on ‘creativity for dementia care’ as our overall theme. The keynote speakers and workshop leads have a wealth of knowledge and experience in this field and we feel so fortunate to have them taking part".
Dr Allison Hibbert, GP specialising in older adults and Chair of the Dementia Partnership Board, said: "Dementia has been named as a key priority for the health and care system in Cornwall. The estimated prevalence has nearly doubled in 10 years and is set to rise further.
"We are passionate about helping people to live as well as possible with dementia, and we want to ‘make dementia everyone’s business’. If you are concerned about memory loss, or are not sure that you have been given a diagnosis, please speak to your GP. Early diagnosis and having the right support can make such a difference.
"I am proud of the work we are doing to raise awareness and upskill our workforce. This will do much to help ensure that people get a timely diagnosis so we can provide the best support for their needs. It’s important to focus on the things that people can do and still enjoy rather than the things they can’t. That’s why I'm excited that we have created this vibrant showcase of creative support to help people living with dementia and their carers".
Healthwatch Cornwall have also launched a survey, in collaboration with Cornwall Memory Café Network and health care partners to collect feedback from carers of people living with dementia to help with the future of services.
You can read more about the Cornwall Dementia Conference live-stream event on the official website.