This is a national project led by Cardiff and the Vale University Health Board, looking to bring together a resource for people living with dementia and their carers. This project is led in the Gwent area by the Gwent Regional Partnership who have pulled together a sub group as part of the National project in Wales.
These resources will begin to support social and functional activity recovery, as COVID-19 restrictions are eased. The project was developed out of feedback from people living with dementia, their families and carers expressing how fearful they are about going back out into the community, worried about accessing healthcare services, as well as community shops and support groups. Furthermore people are reporting that they have lost skills & confidence during their time in isolation.
In a recent survey of 2000 people living with dementia the Alzheimer’s Society found that 82% reported a deterioration in dementia symptoms since following isolation/stay at home guidance.
Of those who had seen a decline, around half reported increased memory loss (50%) and difficulty concentrating (48%). More than one in four (27%) said reading and writing has become more difficult, and one in three said the same for speaking and understanding speech (33%). More than a quarter had seen a loss in the ability to do daily tasks, like cooking or dressing (28%).
The Gwent partners include:
Councillor Paul Cockeram, Cabinet member for Social Services
Councillor Carol Andrews, Mayor of Caerphilly County Borough Council.
Lorraine Edmunds, Lead Dementia Nurse, ABUHB.
Natasha Harris, Policy and Project Officer Gwent Regional Partnership team.
Sarah Morecroft, Clinical Practice and Education Occupational Therapist and OT student team.
Richard Maiorano, Dementia Friendly Communities (Wales) Alzheimer’s Society.
Naheed Ashraf, Regional Carers Programme Manager, ABUHB.
Sandie Grieve, Sector Engagement and Development Officer at Social Care Wales.
Chris Hodson, Breaking Barriers Community Arts and Alzheimer’s Society representative.
Kathryn Wall, Intervention and Prevention Coordinator, Gwent Police.
Keith Wheeler, Dementia Coordinator, Torfaen Memory Clinic
Chella Rowles, Dementia Coordinator, Welsh Ambulance Service.
Sinead Heard, Sian Legge, Cwmbran Shopping Centre Dementia Champions.