Launch of Romsey as a Dementia Friendly Market Town
The word dementia describes a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. There are many different types of dementia and it 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 Alzheimer’s Society estimate that nationally there are about 800,000 people living with dementia and that 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 years will develop the condition. Many of these will not be diagnosed.
It is estimated that there are approximately 7,500 people aged over 65 years of age living in Test Valley with dementia. Test Valley Borough Council has signed up to the Hampshire Action on Dementia Alliance. This is our commitment to ensuring that the services and facilities we provide enable people living with the condition to carry on with everyday activities as much as possible and Test Valley Borough Council front line staff will receive dementia awareness training so they have a better understanding of the condition.
We have also been working with Andover Mind and Romsey Town Council and are extremely proud that Romsey has become the first Dementia Friendly Market Town in Hampshire officially on the 1st May 2014.
Businesses signed up as Dementia Friends and part of the Romsey Dementia Friendly Market Town project:
• Age Concern Romsey and District
• Age UK Andover and District
• Ashleigh Sight Care
• B Drummond Butchers
• Bojangles
• Boots
• Bradbeers
• Carers Together
• Cook
• Costa (The Rapids)
• Clarks
• Complete Security
• Humbugs
• Hampshire Mobility
• Judy Webb Florist
• Morris Dibben Residential Sales and Lettings
• Nat West
• Romsey Library
• Romans Originals
• Romsey Town Council
• Romsey TIC
• Santander
• The White Horse Hotel and Brasserie (Silks Hotel)
• The Rapids (Valley Leisure)
• Test Valley Borough Council
• Test Valley Community Services
• Wisdom House
The launch has now taken place but you can find more information by clicking here