Yahoo Lifestyle Workshop educates people on signs of dementia
A man who was inspired by his father's struggles with dementia has hailed the first of a series of educational workshops on the disease as a success.
Rick Deller, a district councillor from Droitwich, Worcestershire, made it his mission to make his town more dementia-friendly following his father Graham's diagnosis.
The first of his Droitwich dementia workshops was held on Wednesday, with another due to take place on Friday - but Mr Deller said it was just the start.
"There's things like connecting with the schools and I want to run events in town," he said. "Really engage with the community."
The session, delivered by Age UK Wyvern at Droitwich Spa Council For Voluntary Service (CVS), was aimed at charities, community groups and volunteers.
Mr Deller said his father, who is cared for full-time by Mr Deller's mother, would have "really loved" the event.
"It would have been really good for him to know how much support there is," he said. "And I think more importantly, for my mum as the carer… that would mean so much to her.
"If you asked any carer out there who's supporting someone with dementia, I imagine they'd say exactly the same thing."
Among those also attending was carer Nicky Roberts, who said it was "brilliant".
She said dementia should be discussed more openly.
"There's a lot of stigma around it; there are a lot of people confused about how people with dementia are living their everyday lives," she said. "Someone may come across drunk, or they may come across with a speech impediment.
They may not have those things; it may just be that they are living with dementia, and they're just completely misread.
"So it's about raising awareness of recognising those signs; it's recognising that that person is living with dementia."
Mayor of Droitwich Alex Sinton watched both his grandmother and mother-in-law battle with dementia.
"She was a highly intelligent lady," he said of his mother-in-law.
"When she retired from being a headteacher, she did a degree in art history and actually became a lecturer in art history. That's how bright she was, and that's why I think it's vitally important that… we are all very aware of [dementia].
"Events like this are vitally important."
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