Making Hackney Dementia Friendly

Pictured: Kim-Lien Ong from Connect Hackney at the launch of the Hackney Dementia Festival

From Monday 20 May to Sunday 26 May, it’s Dementia Action Week – a week that unites individuals, workplaces and communities to take action and improve the lives of people living with dementia.

Around 1,300 people in Hackney are living with dementia, and with an increasing and ageing population in the borough, the rate of dementia will increase along with demand for local dementia-friendly services.

‘Research shows that many people with dementia find it challenging to keep their friendships going, while people with mental health problems can isolate themselves due to stigma and feelings of low confidence brought on by depression. Not being able to get out regularly means that you can’t meet people and are at high risk of isolation.’

Judy Harris, Development Lead at Connect Hackney

The Hackney Dementia Festival

The Hackney Dementia Festival 2019 celebrates Dementia Action Week and the continued involvement of people living with dementia in arts, culture and sport.

There are events throughout the week such as cinema screenings, a performance at Arcola Theatre, dementia friendly swimming, a Caribbean tea party, a tea dance in Shoreditch Town Hall, table tennis and much more. Check out the full programme here.

Get involved

To get involved in the work to make Hackney a Dementia Friendly community contact Harry Johnson, Dementia Friendly Community Coordinator at the Alzheimer’s Society, on 020 8533 0091 or harry.johnson@alzheimers.org.uk