Alec Shelbrooke MP Dementia Summit in Leeds and Wetherby Area

Published 02 March 2015.

“By 2021 over 1 million people will be living with dementia. This summit is about forming a collaborative approach to improving dementia services in Leeds – bringing together GPs, volunteers and care providers in one forum and setting the agenda for first class dementia services in the UK.”

Alec Shelbrooke MP

During a recent visit to the offices of Carefound Home Care, Alec Shelbrooke MP kindly invited our team to attend a Dementia Summit organised in his Elmet & Rothwell constituency in January 2015 hosted by LNT Group.

Attendees represented a wide spectrum of the care industry including the NHS, volunteers, charities, care providers, local businesses, families, and representatives from West Yorkshire Police and Fire and Rescue. The event focused on the rising numbers of people being diagnosed with dementia and why it is important for people, businesses and community and local services to become ‘Dementia Friends’ – a government initiative to improve the understanding and awareness of dementia across the UK.

The event also focused on the Leeds Dementia Action Alliance – the local branch of the national Dementia Action Alliance which brings together organisations committed to transforming the lives of people with dementia and their carers. In the Leeds and Wetherby area, there are over 8,500 people living with dementia and the Leeds Dementia Action Alliance now has over 60 members including:

• Leeds United FC
• Trinity Leeds Shopping Centre
• West Yorkshire Playhouse
• West Yorkshire Fire Service
• West Yorkshire Police (the first police force to be permitted to have ‘Dementia Friendly’ stickers inside their police patrol vehicles)
• Banks, cafes, shops and pubs

Steph Booth, wife of acclaimed actor Tony Booth, was a guest speaker at the event having experienced dementia personally when Tony was diagnosed with the condition 12 years ago. Steph spoke eloquently about her personal experience as a carer, how they have good days and bad days, and how she always tries to remember three key things – love, laughter and affection. Steph also joked lightly that a glass of wine helped too!

After the event delegates watched a Dementia Friendly presentation and were given the opportunity to become a ‘Dementia Friend’. As an added bonus, they were also given a guided tour of the Ginetta car factory located at the LNT Group offices where they caught a glimpse of Sir Chris Hoy who will be competing in the 24-hour Le Mans motor race later in the year.

Source: Carefound Home Care.

Carefound Home Care is a provider of specialist home care and live-in care services to elderly people in Yorkshire, enabling clients to continue to live independently in the comfort of their own home whilst maintaining the highest quality of life achievable. Services can include anything from basic domestic support, companionship, personal care, medication help through to supporting people with more complex conditions such as dementia. The flexible service is available from 1 hour to 24 hours per day, 365 days a year, on both an hourly or 24-hour live in care basis.

To contact Carefound Home Care in Harrogate call: 01423 774070, for Ripon call: 01765 530000, for Wetherby call: 01937 220200. For additional information please visit: www.carefound.co.uk.