More than 80 health care professionals, volunteers and family carers gathered at a panel event to discuss the future of dementia care on the Island.
Hosted by Lady Grylls and Joe Robertson, the event in Bembridge brought together a panel and audience of local and national experts including panellist Dr Hilda Hayo, Chief Executive of the charity Dementia UK.
Completing the panel were Darren Cattell, Chief Executive of the Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Cllr John Nicholson, Chair of the Council’s Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee.
In what was a well-attended and thought-provoking session, the panel answered a range of pre-submitted and spontaneous questions about local dementia provision on the Isle of Wight.
A recurring theme was how to effectively communicate with someone with dementia, particularly during periods when the person believes that a loved one from the past is still alive.
Dr Hayo, who is also Chief Admiral Nurse at Dementia UK, responded by advising caution to not cause distress by reminding someone unnecessarily that a loved one had died.
Joe Robertson, who works as a national adviser to Dementia UK and chaired the panel session, said after the event:
“We were fortunate to have such a wealth of knowledge and very personal experience in the room, some of which was shared.
"I agree this awful disease has not yet received the level of attention and exposure that is needed.
"That is one of the key reasons I organised this event with Sally Grylls.”
Bembridge resident Don Webber, who was present at the panel event, is preparing to walk the Camino de Santiago in aid of Dementia UK.
Donations can be made via his just giving page.
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