Watford is on its way to becoming a dementia friendly town after the ‘Watford Dementia Action Group’ was recognised by official accreditors the Alzheimer's Society.
The group, which is comprised of Watford Borough Council and 10 partners’ organisations - aims to create a ‘dementia-friendly’ Watford by making the town and all it provides more accessible to people with dementia and their carers. This includes ensuring people with dementia enjoy equal opportunities to enjoy socialising, are easily able to participate in everyday activity and live independently, all without fear of stigma or rejection.
Following the success of the town’s first Dementia Action Week - 20 to 24 May - the group focusing on three things:
Getting all of the business community and their staff engaged with the Dementia Friends campaign and related training
Creating a social space in the town specifically for people with dementia and their carers
Creating an information hub that lists all of the activities events, clubs , places an spaces that are dementia friendly across Watford and neighbouring areas and
The Group is also working with the Alzheimer's Society to organise a Memory Walk in Cassiobury Park on 14 September 2019 (11am) to help raise funds and awareness. Other events that run on regular basis include Dementia Friends sessions and vibrant singing sessions with Herts Musical Memories who return to the town on 5 December for a Christmas concert.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor said: “One of my priorities is to make Watford a more dementia friendly town, so we are delighted to be recognised in this way. There are over one thousand local people living with dementia, so we are working with many different organisations to see how we can best support people who are living with dementia and their carers too.
“Watford is such a caring town and I know that lots of people will want to get involved with this. Making the town better for people living with dementia is important because we want to be a town where everyone can thrive and live fulfilling lives.”
Alexis Neighbour, Director of Home Instead said “This is something close to our hearts at Home Instead as we look after many older people at home who have dementia and it can be simple things that improve their quality of their life. We all can do something to show we care about dementia and can help people with it.”
Find out more about Dementia at dementiafriendlywatford.com. To find out more about becoming a Dementia Friend, visit dementiafriends.org.uk