Brookdale puts the spotlight on Dementia with week of special events

Staff, service users and families at the specialist Brookdale Resource Centre in Ainsdale took part in a range of activities to mark Dementia Action Week which is organised by the Alzheimer’s Society.

Highlights of the week at the centre – which is run by Sefton’s leading adult social care provider, New Directions – included two fun afternoons of reminiscence and musical memories.

One featured popular vocalist Teresa Harper who encouraged the audience to sing along to her wide-ranging repertoire of classic songs including music hall, wartime and 1960s and 1970s hits.

The other featured Southport-based choir Local Vocals making an early return visit to Brookdale following their appearance at the centre at Easter.

The week also included pamper sessions and massage, courtesy of Sefton Opera, and a special afternoon tea.

Brookdale Manager, Salwa Moustafa, said it’s important for the service to lend its support to campaigns like Dementia Action Week.

She explained: “A key objective of this week’s events was to provide fun for the people who use our service, and to show that people affected by dementia can still live a full and enjoyable life.

“However, it’s also important to use national events like this to raise awareness of dementia in our area, and the effect it can have on local people living with the condition and their families, and in doing so also challenges the stigma associated with it.”

Figures indicate that someone in the world now develops dementia every three seconds, and that by 2050 around 131.5 million people around the globe will be living with the condition.

Brookdale Resource Centre enables the carers of service users with dementia to have an important respite break. Clients enjoy a wide range of activities at the centre including arts and crafts, sensory stimulation and music and reminiscence therapies.

*  For more information about Brookdale Resource Centre contact Salwa Moustafa on 01704  571026.