Derry to host unique Dementia Conference

The DEEDS (Dementia Engaged & empowered in Derry and Strabane) Project is delivering a unique Dementia Conference to Derry later this month.

They are asking people to Engage, Empower and Pledge to do more to create a Dementia friendly city and district.

The DEEDS project, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, will host the conference on Tuesday 16th May in the City Hotel in Derry at 9.30am.

This conference will celebrate the first phase of the DEEDS project itself, launch the new phase of work and introduce their new training and education programme. The conference is aimed at carers and families of those with dementia, professionals working in the field of older adults and dementia and those local community, statutory organisations and businesses who are looking to learn more about how they can and should support people with dementia when in their company.

The DEEDS project itself offers a wide range of programmes for people living with early-stage dementia and their families (carers) living in the Derry and Strabane District Council area.

The project operates across six sites namely Hillcrest Trust, Caw Nelson Drive Action Group, Shantallow Community Centre, Learmount Community Centre in Park, Strabane & District Caring Services & the Old Library Trust in Creggan. The aim of the project is to keep people living with dementia well for longer in their own community.

DEEDS social and activity groups offer opportunities to meet and build new friendships or renew old ones as well as activities for cognitive stimulation and to support movement and mobility in a fun and inclusive way. There is also a focus on connecting to the community for dementia friendly events such as cinema days and dinner dances.

DEEDS support families with signposting and their free four week Carers Education Course which runs quarterly for family members caring for someone living with dementia at home. There is a new monthly Carers Drop-In Group as well as other self-care and well-being courses for carers throughout the year.

Sinead Devine, Deeds Co-ordinator commented: “The Deeds Team are so excited with their preparations for the conference and to be sharing their work over the past four years as well as launching our new training programme.

“Our members are also busy in their social groups preparing a small surprise for attendees and Mellow DEEDS, our choir are practicing their singing to share on the day. “

DEEDS will launch the new elements of their programme such as support for those awiaitng a dementia diagosis and their Training and Education for the community.

This will offer a cost effective suite of training for local businesses and community groups and to formal carers and care home staff. An immersive experiential module where participants get to walk in the shoes of someone living with dementia is also available.

The work of DEEDS untilimately aims at making Derry and Strabane a dementia friendly city and district.

George McGowan , Project Director at the Old Library Trust highlights the importance of this conference to everyone across the city and district.

“Dementia impacts us all. We all age and with more people living longer the chance of Dementia impacting ourselves or are families is ever increasing. We all need to do more. The conference is an opportunity for people to come together, share experiences, learn about support services that are available and think about how we all collectively can do more to support those living with dementia across the city and district.

“On the day PLEDGE to do your bit and lets continue to create people, places, programmes and services to be more dementia friendly.”

For more information contact the DEEDS team at the Old Library Trust by email on reception@olt.ie or telephone 028 71 373870. All socials are @OLTHLC