City Museum and Alzheimer’s Society join forces for dementia awareness event

Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery and Alzheimer’s Society are collaborating on a special event at Drake Circus Shopping Centre on Thursday 22 May as part of Dementia Awareness Week (18 to 24 May).

The focus of this year’s Dementia Awareness Week is on ‘opening up’ and encouraging people who are concerned about dementia-related issues to talk about their worries rather than bottling things up.

Visitors to Drake Circus on 22 May will get a chance to raise the roof in the morning and play in the sand during the afternoon – as well as learn more about the condition.

Throughout the morning, members of Plymouth’s 'Singing for the Brain' groups will be performing songs for people to join in with.

Singing for the Brain is a service offered by Alzheimer’s Association Plymouth. It is based around the principles of music therapy and provides structured group sessions where people with dementia and their carers can meet up to sing new and familiar songs as well as talk.

In the afternoon, community outreach staff from the City Museum and Art Gallery will be running a series of handling activities complete with a small sandpit, as well as a bottle-themed quiz.

Dementia support workers will also be on hand throughout the day to chat to people and provide information.

“When I was diagnosed with dementia it was a relief to be believed and to be able to discuss it,” said Doreen Abbott, a member of Singing for the Brain. “I go to Singing for the Brain regularly and really love it. I hope people will come and join us on the day – not just to hear us sing but to help us raise awareness of dementia too.”

Alzheimer’s Society Plymouth runs two Singing for the Brain groups. It also offers a number of other services including memory cafés, befriending and dementia support. To find out more visit www.alzheimers.org.uk/localinformation or call 01752 608909.

For more information about Dementia Awareness Week visit www.alzheimers.org.uk/remembertheperson

For more information about the Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery visit www.plymouthmuseum.gov.uk or call 01752 304774.