We recently took part in the Southampton Dementia Festival, running nature themed craft workshops, music and refreshments for carers.
These are the words of a carer who attended the face to face event at Mayfield Nursery last week.
Dementia is a disease that affects over 2500 people living in Southampton city and impacts on their carers, friends and family.
Due to Covid 19 the festival was unable to follow the normal format of a large event in Hoglands Park. Instead a number of zoom and in person events were held across the City. At Mayfield Nurseries, we hosted two afternoons of music, craft activities and refreshments for people living with dementia and their carers. These proved popular with people booking to attend to spend time socialising and getting to know what the nursery can offer. As a result of these events we are planning to set up a dementia drop in at the nursery.
To find out more about this give us a call on 023 8044 7743.
Other events during the week were online. Prof Clive Holmes, a dementia researcher at the University of Southampton talked about current research into biological solutions for this disease. His talk can be watched again on the SO: Linked website. Within the city there are some excellent resources to support people living with dementia, SO: Linked has the contract for dementia support workers and they currently have a 5 week waiting list. To contact SO: Linked please go to their website or ring 023 8021 6050.
These events were a collaboration by a number of organisations in the city including Portswood and area Dementia Action Group, Speedwell Court (Abbeyfield), Right at Home Solent, Carers in Southampton, Saints Foundation, Caraway and Solent Mind.
For more information and to get involved with forthcoming events please contact Katherine Barbour, chair of Southampton Dementia Festival committee on 07763 863360
