Dementia Action Week events with Anna Chaplaincy input…

Anna Chaplains Jackie Saunders and Jane Roberts at a county-wide event on 26 May

Kent Dementia Action Week Events – May 2023

The focus for Dementia Action Week this year (15–21 May) was on encouraging timely diagnosis of dementia. Improving rates of diagnosis has been a key thrust of the National Dementia Strategy in England and Wales for 14 years, but the Covid-19 pandemic halted the progress that had been made. When the strategy was first launched, only one-third of people with dementia had received a formal assessment and diagnosis; this had increased to around two-thirds, though with considerable geographical variation. As with other areas of diagnosis and treatment, the pandemic has introduced significant delays in dementia assessment.

In Kent, Anna Chaplains have had a presence on exhibition stands at several Dementia Action Week events. On 26 May, the Kent Showground at Detling hosted a Dementia Showcase (Kent Dementia Action Alliance | England | KDAA (kentdaa.org) at which Jane Roberts and Jackie Saunders represented Anna Chaplaincy. Visitors were keen to find out more, including many care home representatives from across the county. On 30 May, Sylvia Munns hosted a stand on Anna Chaplaincy at two events – at New Ash Green and Northfleet – speaking with many visitors interested in spiritual care for people living with dementia.

Anna Chaplaincy lead for Rochester and Canterbury Diocese, Julia Burton-Jones, collated information about church groups and activities for people with dementia and their carers.

She also produced a leaflet explaining what is meant by ‘spiritual care’ and how Anna Chaplains can support people with dementia.

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