NHS Lanarkshire and its partners celebrated Dementia Awareness Week, which took place from 30 May to 5 June.

The theme was ‘Let’s challenge dementia together’ and aimed to raise awareness of dementia, dispel common misconceptions about dementia, raise funds to support the work of Alzheimer Scotland and build on last year’s theme of ‘Let’s talk about dementia’.

To mark the event in Lanarkshire, NHS Lanarkshire and its partner agencies held a variety of events across the county.

Susan McMorrin, NHS Lanarkshire senior health promotion officer for mental health, said: “The aim of the campaign was to provide people with advice and information about dementia and about living with the condition.

“There is still a lot of stigma surrounding dementia and it can often be a lonely and isolating experience for people with dementia and their carers.

“We want to reassure people that support is available for them and there is a range of services in the community that we can signpost them to for extra support.

“We also want to reassure people that it is possible to live well with dementia.”

Councillor Barry McCulloch, North Lanarkshire Council convener of housing and social work services said: “North Lanarkshire is at the forefront in providing care and support for people living with dementia.

“So much can be achieved when we work together to help people with dementia and this requires a community wide approach to help those in need.

“Dementia Awareness Week is vital in helping people understand how they can get involved in caring for people living with dementia and North Lanarkshire Council is proud to support this campaign.”

Evelyn Devlin, community living manager from South Lanarkshire Council social work resources, said: “Dementia Awareness Week offers a wonderful opportunity to share the great work undertaken by everyone who works with older people in health and social care settings.

“In South Lanarkshire we organised carer information open days as well as some music therapy, cognitive stimulation and reminiscence sessions across our establishments during Dementia Awareness Week.

“We also opened a sensory garden within McKillop Gardens residential care home as the benefit of sensory stimulation is well recognised in supporting service users with dementia.”

If you would like to become a dementia friend, register at: www.dementiafriendsscotland.org. For more information on dementia or living with dementia visit: http://www.alzscot.org/