Last month we held a Dementia Friendly Community Buildings face-to-face training workshop in Chieveley Village Hall.

We worked with Age UK Berkshire to deliver the training and were pleased to welcome 13 learners to the session. An outcome of the learning event, supported by West Berkshire Council Adult Community Learning, is that there are more Dementia Friends and community buildings in West Berks that are welcoming and friendly to those experiencing dementia.

Five key messages from Dementia Friends, an Alzheimer’s Society initiative, for us all to take away are:

1. Dementia is not a natural part of aging
2. Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain
3. Dementia is not just about losing your memory – it can affect thinking, communicating and doing everyday tasks
4. It’s possible to live well with dementia
5. There’s more to a person than the dementia