<strong>Lichfield</strong> Memory Café By Karen Wilk<strong>in</strong>son ................................ <strong>Lichfield</strong> Memory Café, run by Home Instead, supports carers and their loved one liv<strong>in</strong>g with dementia. S<strong>in</strong>ce re-open<strong>in</strong>g after the first lockdown, The Memory Café has rema<strong>in</strong>ed open s<strong>in</strong>ce October, support<strong>in</strong>g both carers and their loved ones liv<strong>in</strong>g with dementia. Now more th<strong>in</strong>gs have opened, our <strong>Lichfield</strong> members have been very busy! We were recently jo<strong>in</strong>ed by <strong>Lichfield</strong> Big Red Bike Project - a volunteer run charitable organisation that takes older adults, but not exclusively, on short rides around the beautiful city of <strong>Lichfield</strong>. The twoseater electric bicycle, called a trishaw, is piloted by a tra<strong>in</strong>ed volunteer cyclist. Members where delighted to be chauffeured around the city on what was a glorious sunny day, and another highlight of the day was receiv<strong>in</strong>g a donation of £200 from Jamie Checkland, who expla<strong>in</strong>s why he wanted to do this. “The impact of dementia touches so many people’s lives <strong>in</strong> our local community, I thought I would like to raise funds that would make a difference for people liv<strong>in</strong>g with dementia <strong>in</strong> the local area. “Be<strong>in</strong>g a member of Whitt<strong>in</strong>gton FC over 45s we decided to play a fundraiser match, play<strong>in</strong>g Shenstone Pathf<strong>in</strong>ders over 35s, unfortunately los<strong>in</strong>g 6-2 but nevertheless we raised £200 for the <strong>Lichfield</strong> Memory Café. City Granted Dementia Friendly Status ................................ <strong>Lichfield</strong> has been recognised for its work to become a safe and supportive city for those liv<strong>in</strong>g with Dementia. This is awarded by the Alzheimer’s Society and <strong>Lichfield</strong> is now ‘Work<strong>in</strong>g to Become Dementia Friendly’ for <strong>2021</strong>. A dementia-friendly community is where people with dementia are understood, respected, and supported. In a dementia-friendly community people will be aware of and understand dementia, so that people with dementia can cont<strong>in</strong>ue “It was a competitive match but a social occasion and so worthwhile, rais<strong>in</strong>g money for such a worthy cause. We hope to play another game <strong>in</strong> the future when our players have recovered!” Thanks go to the Big Red Bike Project <strong>in</strong> <strong>Lichfield</strong>, for more details visit www.thebigredbike.co.uk. and to Jamie Checkland for the k<strong>in</strong>d donation received from Whitt<strong>in</strong>gton FC. The donation will be used to help fund the trip to the Black Country Museum. If you are <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> volunteer<strong>in</strong>g at the Memory Café, or can offer your talents whether it be song, dance, art, or anyth<strong>in</strong>g that you th<strong>in</strong>k will stimulate members, please let us know. Alternatively, if you would like to receive <strong>in</strong>formation about Home Instead Services or our Caregiver positions, please call us on 01543 625002 or visit our website at www.home<strong>in</strong>stead.co.uk/tamworth. Home Instead specialises <strong>in</strong> the care of older people <strong>in</strong> the local community and we help them stay connected to their community. The <strong>Lichfield</strong> Memory Café runs every Thursday from 10am-12noon at the Guild Hall, Bore Street, <strong>Lichfield</strong> WS13 6LU. For more <strong>in</strong>formation, contact karen.hurmson@Tamworth.home<strong>in</strong>stead.co.uk or call 01543 625002. to live <strong>in</strong> the way they want to and <strong>in</strong> the community they choose. Thanks to a work<strong>in</strong>g group of volunteers represent<strong>in</strong>g many different organisations, <strong>Lichfield</strong> is now one of 400 recognised dementia-friendly communities across England and Wales. The local Memory Café has been an <strong>in</strong>valuable group to help make <strong>Lichfield</strong> a dementia-friendly community, supported by Home Instead <strong>in</strong> partnership with Churches Together, which runs a weekly gather<strong>in</strong>g where people can come together <strong>in</strong> a support<strong>in</strong>g friendly environment, with others that are <strong>in</strong> similar circumstances. Other organisations such as <strong>Lichfield</strong> Library, Love To Move, Freedom Leisure, <strong>Lichfield</strong> Garrick and many local churches have also played a huge part <strong>in</strong> achiev<strong>in</strong>g this Dementia Friendly Community status. Dementia is a condition affect<strong>in</strong>g an <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g number of people across the country, mean<strong>in</strong>g movements like Dementia Friendly Communities are more and more important. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to the NHS at the end of June <strong>2021</strong> there were 1,770 people diagnosed with dementia <strong>in</strong> South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Pen<strong>in</strong>sular CCG area, with many more who are currently undiagnosed. The Alzheimer’s Society estimates that by 2051, two million people across the country will be liv<strong>in</strong>g with dementia if successful treatments or cures are not found. Encourag<strong>in</strong>gly, there are 3,703 people who have become Dementia Friends who live or work <strong>in</strong> <strong>Lichfield</strong>. This <strong>in</strong> part has happened because of the action taken by the <strong>Lichfield</strong> Dementia-Friendly Community. To f<strong>in</strong>d out more about how you can get <strong>in</strong>volved and take action, you can f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>Lichfield</strong> Dementia-Friendly Community on Facebook. Everyone is welcome to jo<strong>in</strong> the monthly action meet<strong>in</strong>gs. 24
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