Hillingdon Council has introduced a new Dementia Friends group for residents with younger-onset dementia.
The group will meet each Thursday at Northwood Library, starting on 28 February. Beginning at 10am and running until 11.30am, the sessions will offer a range of activities suitable for those living with dementia aged under 65.
The first get-together will include gentle yoga, as well as tea and biscuits. Attendees will also have a chance to shape future activities.
This new session meets the needs of residents who said they felt disconnected from the existing dementia coffee mornings, which were more focused on older residents.
Councillor Philip Corthorne, Hillingdon Council cabinet member for social services, housing, health and wellbeing, said: “Dementia affects the young as well as the old and these new sessions will suit those with early onset dementia, which could be diagnosed as early as 40.
“We responded to requests from our residents who wanted to see something more suited to their needs. We are working hard with the Hillingdon Alzheimer’s Society and our partner organisations in the Dementia Action Alliance to make our community as dementia-friendly as possible, so it is one of our key priorities to make sure that everyone living with dementia in Hillingdon feels supported.”
Dementia Friends’ coffee mornings for over-65s are held at Botwell Green, Uxbridge, Ruislip Manor, Northwood Hills, Yiewsley and Harlington libraries.
In addition to our regular Dementia Friends sessions, Hillingdon Council will also be supporting Dementia Awareness Week from May 20 to 26, with a focus on encouraging retailers to become more dementia-friendly. In March, the council will join partners in the Dementia Action Alliance in recruiting retailers in Uxbridge, Ruislip, Hayes and West Drayton high streets to take a pledge to be more dementia-friendly in time for the week.
For more information on the new coffee morning visit hillingdon.gov.uk/dementia or contact Northwood Library on 01895 558262.
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