Dementia Information Hubs Launched in Ards and North Down

The South Eastern Dementia Friendly Partnership in collaboration with Ards and North Down Borough Council has launched seven active Information Hubs for people living with dementia and their carers across Ards and North Down. Each hub contains leaflets in dementia related services; Dementia Navigator service, Alzheimer's Society Service as well as an Information Booklet with helpful tips and guidance to signpost people who are worried about their memory to relevant support organisations.

The Information Hubs will be located within each of the six local libraries across Ards and North Down and Peninsula Healthy Living, Kircubbin.

The Mayor of Ards and North Down,Councillor Alistair Cathcart, said:

"Becoming 'Dementia Friendly' is a key commitment of the Council and is incorporated within the Community Plan and Age Friendly Strategy and Action Plan. There are over 20,000 people living with dementia across Northern Ireland, many of whom live in our Borough, and Age UK's statistics suggest this could rise to 60,000 by 2050.

The provision of the Information Hubs will work towards supporting residents living with dementia and their carers."

The Chair of the SE Dementia Friendly Partnership, Sandra Glover said:

"The South Eastern HSC Trust, Alzheimer's Society, Local Councils, Voluntary and Community organisations from across the South Eastern Trust area have established a Dementia Friendly Partnership to work together to enable communities to be dementia friendly.

A dementia friendly community is a city, town or village where people living with dementia are understood, respected and supported. In a dementia friendly community people will be aware of and understand dementia, so that people living with dementia can continue to live in the way they want to and in the community they choose.

The Information Hubs will build on the partnership's aim of enabling communities to be dementia friendly through raising awareness of dementia and support services available."