Dementia Week in Brent puts dementia on the map
Russell Grant comes back to Brent to support Dementia Action Week
The government’s dementia advisor and celebrity astrologer Russell Grant, joined Brent Council and partners Community Action on Dementia and Brent CCG to help promote Dementia Action Week last week.
There were a number of public events open to residents to raise awareness of dementia, including stalls at the Civic Centre and Chalkhill Community Centre, a multi-faith forum at Neasden Temple and the chance to watch a charity football match at Hendon Football Club Silver Jubilee Park.
Employees representing Brent Council, The College of North West London, Quintain and Wembley Park played a 90-minute match on a beautifully sunny day to raise money for Ashford Place, which hosts one of Brent’s multiple Dementia Cafes. Former Brent resident Russell Grant, who is a patron of Middlesex football supported the charity football match which raised over £1,000 on the day.
Russell Grant said: “Having been a carer for my own grandmother with Alzheimer’s over a nine-year period, I was keen to lend my support to the special Brent Dementia Action Week.
“I looked after my grandmother in Ickenham and I bought my first property in Alperton so being Middlesex born-and-bred-and-based made this a particularly poignant event at Silver Jubilee Park.
“Everyone who took part and who were personally involved showed their commitment to make for one amazing Middlesex day. My particular thanks goes to Rob Morris, owner of Silver Jubilee Park who made me so welcome and everyone who gave their all to draw awareness and raise funds for this devastating disease, now the biggest killer in the United Kingdom”.
Cllr Harbi Farah, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care also took to the streets of Neasden during the week with some residents who live with dementia. Together they spoke to business owners about how to deal with people who have dementia and the problems that they might face.
Cllr Farah said: “It was great to speak to shop owners about dementia. There are lots of different aspects to the illness and if shopkeepers understand what people who live with dementia may be going through, they should be able to help serve their customers better.
“It’s as simple as understanding what to do with a customer who may be a little confused or having patience with someone who may have forgotten what they are looking for. The more we can educate people to help others, the closer we are to becoming a Dementia Friendly borough, where everyone can all feel safe, secure, happy and healthy.”
Brent aims to be a dementia friendly borough by 2020. There are currently 16 dementia cafes in Brent. To find your nearest dementia café, go to www.brent.gov.uk/dementia.
