HEALTH groups from across the town are organising a series of events to support Dementia Awareness Week.

An estimated 850,000 people in the country are living with dementia with the figure expected to rise to one million by 2025. Dementia Awareness Week aims to educate people about the condition and make support available for those who have it.

The week begins on Monday and will run through until Sunday, May 24. In Swindon and the surrounding area a host of care homes and GP surgeries will be running activities. One of those is Ridgeway House Residential Care, in Royal Wootton Bassett.

Andrea Wright, the centre’s activities co-ordinator, said: “We have got a lot of things lined up. We have got a sensory day going on, a quiz and a series of health walks lined up during the week.

“We always feel that it is very important to support this campaign and we are pleased to do anything we can.”

Great Western Hospital also has a number of events lined up to mark the week.

On Monday and Tuesday, experts from the centre will be on hand to offer advice and support in the hospital’s atrium. Meanwhile, information sessions will be taking place at their academy on Wednesday and Thursday.

Sarah White, consultant geriatrician and clinical lead for dementia, said: “Dementia Awareness Week is an important fixture in our calendar as it provides us with the opportunity to increase the public’s understanding of this condition and to remind people that there’s always more to a person than just their dementia.

“There has been a great deal of work within the Trust over the last 12 months to improve the services and care we provide to patients with dementia. By continuing to raise awareness and understanding, more people are able to receive a timely diagnosis which allows them to plan for their future.”

Visitors to the hospital will be able to learn about the hospital’s new dementia friendly ward, Jupiter, which opened in November 2014 following a £98,000 renovation project, funded by the Trust’s charity Brighter Futures.

Wendy Johnson, matron for older person’s care, said: “The changes made to Jupiter are having a real impact on patients, with fewer now suffering from falls thanks in part to the ward’s new non-shiny floor. This ultimately helps people to recover quickly, meaning less time is spent in hospital.”

To stay up to date with the hospital’s activities, Twitter users, are being asked to use the #GWHDementiaWeek hashtag. For more details visit www.gwh.nhs.uk.