Memory difficulties can happen as we get older but dementia is not the norm. At Katherine Low Settlement we strive to create an inclusive environment for our elders, so that those that may be struggling with memory issues feel at home with us. During the recent lockdowns it becomes harder for all of us but for those with dementia it can make daily life more confusing and isolating.
Dementia Action Week begins on the 17th May. This is a good time for us all to take stock and think about how we may help our friends and neighbours who may be struggling with their memory.
If you know someone who is struggling with their memory, a key thing to do is listen, give them space and time to talk it, and then offer encouragement and support to see their doctor. There are lots of reasons our memory can get worse such as anxiety, depression, lack of sleep, hormonal and thyroid issues, or vitamin deficiencies to name a few. By speaking with a GP the symptoms can be looked into and treated. If it needs investigating further they can refer their patient to a memory clinic for some tests.
Over the last couple of month, as lockdown restrictions ease, we’ve been supporting our elders with regular phone calls, 1-2-1 visits and small outings for the most vulnerable, so that our members do not feel alone. We are here to offer support and friendship.
Jean recently told us, “I don’t know what I would do without Katherine Low. I miss coming to the centre so much. It’s so lonely during lockdown I’ve found it hard to cope.”
Please contact our team if you would like to know more about anything we do, or to just come in for a chat.
Call Sarah, Dawn, Lisa or Kerry on 020 7223 2845 or email [email protected]
This Dementia Action Week, Alzheimer’s Society and other social care charities (including KLS) are calling on the Government to cure the care system now.
Right now, the broken social care system means that in the UK, nearly 1 million people with dementia and their families are struggling to get the support and care that they need and deserve.
Decades of underfunding and neglect have led to a care system that’s difficult to access, costly, inadequate and deeply unfair. The coronavirus pandemic has exposed these problems like never before.
Until things change, a dementia diagnosis will continue to claim more than one life, as families facing dementia feel its destructive effects.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
With the right support people with dementia can live a good quality of life, doing what matters most to them for as long as possible.
Sign the petition
While dementia isn’t curable yet, the care system is. Sign the petition here.