Age UK Isle of Wight, Alzheimer’s Café IOW, Carers IW and Healthwatch Isle of Wight are working in collaboration with the Isle of Wight Council, NHS Trust and Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group to develop a strategy for dementia care for the Isle of Wight.
It’s known that dementia is a condition which can impact on everyone and this is why organisations value feedback from Island residents to help shape and improve the support which is available for people living with dementia, plus their carers, families and friends.
A short online survey is available now at www.bit.ly/IOWDementiaStrategy until Monday 14th October. Islanders are being urged to take the time to complete this to share views, experiences of local services and what they feel is needed to make the Island a better place to live with dementia.
Following a well-attended event in St Thomas’s Square, Newport back in July, further events are to be hosted in September and October. All are invited to attend these events to talk to staff and volunteers from voluntary sector partners.
Nik Attfield, Head of Development at Age UK Isle of Wight said of the events:
“This is an exciting opportunity for the public to help shape dementia support services on the Island for the future. Through our day-to-day work we see the impact living with dementia has on individuals, plus their friends and family. We, as a group of organisations, believe that with the public’s help we can work together to improve the support available locally for those with dementia and their carers.
“That’s why it’s so vitally important for us to speak to as many Islanders that have been impacted by dementia as possible, their views and experiences will help us to ensure that the most effective and efficient support is provided for those who need it most.”
Alzheimer Café Isle of Wight are running focus groups for people with dementia their family and carers:
| Location | Date | Time |
| Ryde: All Saint’s Church, Queens Road, Ryde, PO33 3BG | Friday 6th September | 11.30am to 2pm |
| Newport: Ace 7 Café, Riverside Centre, The Quay, Newport, PO30 2DR | Tuesday 10th September | 10.30am to 12.30pm |
| Totland: St. Saviour’s Centre, Weston Lane, Totland, PO39 0HE | Wednesday 18th September | 2pm to 4.30pm |
| The Bay: United Reformed Church, High Street, Shanklin, PO37 6LA | Wednesday 25th September | 2pm to 4pm |
| Newport: St John’s Church Hall, St John’s Church Road, Newport, PO30 1EQ | Thursday 26th September | 6pm to 8.30pm |
| Cowes: Methodist Church, Birmingham Road, Cowes PO31 7BH | Wednesday 9th October | 2pm to 4pm |
Age UK Isle of Wight are hosting Age Friendly Public Forums:
| Location | Date | Time |
| Sandown: Sandown Library, 119 High Street, Sandown, PO36 8AF | Thursday 5th September | 10.30am to 12.30pm |
| Ryde: All Saints Church, Queen’s Road, Ryde, PO33 3AF | Thursday 5th September | 2pm to 4pm |
| Newport: Lord Louis Library, 44 Orchard Street, Newport, PO30 1LL | Tuesday 10th September | 2pm to 4pm |
| West Wight: West Wight Sports Centre, Moa Place, Freshwater, PO40 9XH | Thursday 12th September | 10am to 12pm |
Carers IW are gathering the views and experiences of carers at:
| Location | Date | Time |
| Newport: Dementia Carers Café Forum, Riverside Centre, Newport, PO30 2DR | Monday 7th October | 1.30pm to 3pm |
Age UK Isle of Wight will be on hand to hear your views and experiences:
| Location | Date | Time |
| Lake: Aldi, Whitecross Lane, Lake, PO36 9FT | Tuesday 10th September | 10am to 3pm |
| Ryde: Tesco Extra, Brading Road, Ryde, PO33 1QS | Friday 27h September | 10am to 3pm |
If you would like to request a paper copy of the survey contact Age UK Isle of Wight on 01983 301341.
They are not really serious are they, just another drive for volunteers. The Alzheimer’s society used to have advisers based on the island but they realised that after they had payed the CEO and their minions they could not afford to pay the front line staff so they were sacked and nothing put in place to replace the service. So we will plod on with volunteers who only work when they can get the time.