Dementia Action Week underway in Cornwall to raise awareness of early diagnosis and promote all year round support

Local activities and events are underway to mark Dementia Action Week to raise awareness of why early diagnosis is important, and to promote the year round local support available.

It follows another successful Cornwall Dementia Conference, which saw 180 people attend this popular annual event which brings together local organisations, people living with dementia and their carers to learn more and find out about the different types of support to help people live well with dementia.

Around 6,000 people have a diagnosis of dementia across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, although many more may be affected who are living with symptoms but reluctant to seek a diagnosis or help.

Dr Allison Hibbert, GP and Chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Dementia Partnership says:

“This Dementia Action Week, we want to focus on keeping conversations going, to help raise awareness and action in our local area.

“People living with dementia and their carers can feel isolated. It is a long-term condition that can have a huge impact on the person and their loved ones. There are often myths and stigma around the condition. Ensuring people receive a diagnosis and support is so important.

“That’s why we urge people to come forward for a diagnosis. This should be the key to unlock support. If you are worried about yourself or a loved one, please make contact with your GP surgery in the first instance.”

Cornwall Dementia Conference

Last Friday (16 May) the 2025 Cornwall Dementia Conference took place at Royal Cornwall Showground. This annual event brings together organisations, people living with dementia and their carers. The subject matter ranges from living well and supporting well to dying well with dementia.

Among the many highlights from this year’s event, the ‘Virtual Dementia Bus’ (as seen on Channel 5’s ‘Will you get dementia?’) is a mobile simulator that gives a person with a healthy brain an experience of what it is like to live with dementia.

Delegates also heard about how Saltash is becoming a ‘dementia friendly community’, and the Saltash Memory Box singers brought some musical magic to the day.

Dr Hibbert said of the conference:

“It was fun, exhilarating, emotional, soul food – a journey of tears and laughter. More than 30 carers and people living with dementia came along and mixed with the world of healthcare, voluntary partners, local council and NHS. It was our best one yet.”

About dementia

Dementia is a long-term condition which affects the brain. It can affect anyone of any age but is more common in older age. Symptoms depend on which part of the brain is affected, and everyone’s experience can be different.

Recognising early that someone is living with dementia is really important as it means the person and their carer can get the right support to help them live with the condition better.

The range of symptoms includes problems with memory, thinking, planning and language. The most common types are Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.

Local support

Here are some examples from the great range of local dementia support services:

• A new collaboration called ‘Dementia Together’, which involves disAbility Cornwall and Isles of Scilly,  Memory Matters, NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, and Alzheimer’s Society, launched a Dementia Toolkit Video Series as a one-stop shop for trusted, practical guidance. The toolkit includes films that feature professionals and people with lived experience as we answer common questions, explore key topics, and offer support for every stage of your dementia journey. You can find it on the Cornwall Memory Cafe Network media hub.
• The Dementia Together service has dementia advisors who work in partnership across Cornwall to provide support and advice.
• Cornwall Carers Service delivers a range of support services for unpaid carers throughout Cornwall, free of charge. Services include emotional support, information, advice and guidance.
• Promas offers free courses to help carers manage their caring role; learn from carers’ stories, access resources and join social events.
• The Admiral Nurse Service works closely with families and carers of people with dementia to provide one-to-one support to help their caring journey. You can download a leaflet to find out about Admiral Nurses in Cornwall.
• Cornwall Memory Cafes create welcoming, safe spaces that enable people living with memory loss and their carers to live well. These volunteer-led community groups are free to attend. Find a Memory Cafe near you.
• Singing for the Brain with Teresa Greenaway and the Alzheimer’s Society. Taking place every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month, this uplifting group offers connection, memory stimulation, and joy through music.
• Sensory Trust runs dementia-friendly outdoor activities and walking groups.
• The Filo Project runs small-group care days in a warm and welcoming space in a host’s own home for people with early to moderate dementia. This approach has seen group members flourish and families enjoying regular respite. They are seeking new hosts in a number of areas.
• Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has information and contact details for NHS services for dementia and older people’s mental health.

Walk for Dementia

To coincide with Dementia Action Week, the Cornwall Dementia Partnership supported by Memory Matters has launched the ‘Walk for Dementia’.

The goal is to raise £5,000 towards a dementia specific website for Cornwall, in response to a request from Healthwatch Cornwall’s ‘Hear Our Voice’ dementia report.

The call is out for teams or individuals to complete a 100-mile walking challenge between now and 18 August 2025, with sponsorship of at least £50 per person. Find out more at: www.justgiving.com/campaign/walkfordementia.

Research and how to prevent dementia

Research suggests that 1 in 3 people may be at risk of dementia, and around half is preventable. So, it’s never too early and almost never too late to improve your brain’s health.

Although some factors such as genes and age cannot be changed, there are lots of things we can all do to reduce risk of dementia, such as:

• keep your heart and blood pressure healthy
• take regular exercise and treat high cholesterol
• look after your senses; prevent hearing loss, and if you need hearing aids or glasses make sure you wear them
• connect with other people and reduce social isolation
• eat a healthy diet that avoids too many processed foods and has plenty of veggies
• reduce alcohol intake
• stop smoking
• try new things and keep the brain stimulated
• protect the brain from injury, for example by wearing a helmet during sport.