Heathy Abingdon is in the Community Free Space, Bury Street, Abingdon from 21st to 26th May for Dementia Action Week.  Lisa Thompson was there on behalf of the Alzheimer’s society.

During the week, various groups are present to talk to the public: the Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia Oxfordshire, Carers Oxfordshire, Daybreak, Stowford and Abingdon Court care homes, Soha Housing and Fiddle Fingers Quilts. Details are on the web site www.healthyabingdon.org.uk.

Healthy Abingdon was set up a year ago to bring together groups and individuals to find ways to improve health and wellbeing in the town. There are over 200 community groups in the town that contribute towards peoples health and wellbeing in various ways from physical exercise to keeping the mind active or just having fun.  Dave Butterworth, the Chair of Healthy Abingdon says, ‘It is all about helping people keep well, recover faster from illnesses and cope better with long-term problems. These are all activities that the voluntary sector does well and could do even better in partnership with the NHS and social care services.’

One of the projects that Healthy Abingdon has just started is to make Abingdon more Dementia Friendly which involves, amongst other things, signing up more Dementia Friends and helping those who deal with the public to be more understanding of the needs of those with dementia.