Swindon Mindful Employer Network will turn the spotlight on dementia and consider the impact of employment on carers in a special one-off event staged at Arval in Swindon.

The awareness session called Carers and Dementia: what employers need to know will take place on Wednesday 7th October and will feature guest speakers including John Kirk of Home Instead Senior Care, Diane Barkham of the Swindon Carers Centre and Marco van-Tintelen of the Alzheimer’s Society.

Heart FM’s News Editor Cormac MacMahon will host an interview and Q&A session and Mark Lacey of Arval UK will welcome delegates to the company.

Dementia has been highlighted in recent years by government and third sector campaigns to raise awareness about the illness. The word dementia describes a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. Dementia is caused when the brain is damaged by diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease or a series of strokes. Dementia is progressive, which means the symptoms will gradually get worse. The network will explore the impact that dementia has on individuals, employees and their workplace, customers, families and the wider community.

The event considers issues relating to carers and particularly people who care for loved ones with dementia – and continue to attend a place of work or maintain careers despite the considerable pressures.

Melanie Richens, who chairs the Swindon Mindful Employer Network, feels that employers have an essential role to play in supporting carers and increasing the understanding of dementia.

“As we are living longer and therefore remain in work for longer, the issues surrounding carers and dementia will become increasingly apparent. Businesses will need to appreciate how they can support their people in these very difficult circumstances. It is recognized that the mental wellbeing of carers can suffer as a result of the pressure to juggle responsibilities of supporting a loved one at home and maintaining employment. I am delighted that Arval UK is generously supporting this effort to raise awareness and help more Swindon businesses become effective Mindful Employers.’ Marco van-Tintelen of the Alzheimer’s Society says: “We are delighted to be part of this important effort and urge local businesses to book a place. There are 850,000 people with dementia in the UK which includes 40,000 younger people – by 2025 this will increase to 1 million. Swindon employers need to have some understanding of how this will affect their businesses now and in the future.”

Diane Barkham of the Swindon Carers Centre adds: “The fact is that millions of people combine caring for a loved one with paid work. Despite the pressures and challenges of being a carer many people need to remain in employment whether fulltime or part time and therefore this plays a significant role in their lives – and employers can make a positive and supportive contribution to many of these hard working employees.”

Mark Lacey, HR Business Partner at Arval UK, who are generously hosting the event, comments: “We are very pleased to support this initiative and hope we shall play our part in reducing the stigma and myths which surround dementia and perhaps learn more about how employers can be so much more supportive to carers – who play such an important role in our society. We are also looking forward to hosting our first Swindon Mindful Employer Network meeting which has strongly established itself locally.”