Events being held in Havering for Dementia Awareness Week

Picture: Alzheimer’s Society

Events are being held across Havering to raise awareness for dementia.

The borough has more than 3,600 people living with the condition and that is expected to rise to 5,000 by 2035.

Havering was recognised by the Alzheimer’s Society as being a dementia friendly community in 2017.

Jenny Gray, the Dementia Commissioner for Havering Council, said the aim is to spread awareness about how dementia affects sufferers in every day life.

7,000 people have attended Dementia Friends sessions in the borough.

“We’ve also done dementia awareness sessions in schools because a lot of children may have grandparents that have dementia and it’s really important that everybody understands how to make the lives of people living with dementia a little bit easier,” Jenny said.

Havering Councillor Jason Frost said: “Dementia is one of the most serious issues facing our generation and is a particularly hot topic for Havering, with the highest number of older people in Greater London.

“We’ve worked really hard to achieve dementia-friendly status for the borough by working with organisations to help them better understand the needs of people with dementia.”

Events are being held this week as part of Dementia Awareness Week:

Monday, 20 May

• Information table in the Atrium at Queen’s Hospital, 9.30am-3pm.
• Spring tea party, St John’s Hall, Mountnessing, 12.30pm. Admission free. Contact Leah or Tracy on 07940 231609

Tuesday, 21 May

• Havering Dementia Action Alliance Garden Party, Whittaker Hall, Hornchurch, 1pm-3.30pm. £10 per person. Free for carers of people with dementia. Contact HDAA co-ordinator Susan Anderson on 01708 431249 or susan.anderson@havering.gov.uk
• Community Dementia Workshop, Baytree Shopping Centre, Brentwood, from 10.30am. To book a place contact Lorraine Bond or Steve Willoughby on 01277 822858

Wednesday, 22 May

• Singing for the Brain with Pearly Queen, St Michael’s Church, Gidea Park. £3 donation for refreshments.

Friday, 24 May

• Bothered and Bewildered, a Spotlight Theatre Production about Alzheimer’s Disease, Collier Row Methodist Church, 91 Clockhouse Lane, RM5 3QP. 8pm. Tickets £10 or £5 for seniors. Contact spotlight_theatre@aol.com for more information.

Saturday, 25 May 

• Bothered and Bewildered, a Spotlight Theatre Production about Alzheimer’s Disease, Collier Row Methodist Church, 91 Clockhouse Lane, RM5 3QP. 8pm. Tickets £10 or £5 for seniors. Contact spotlight_theatre@aol.com for more information.