Dementia or simply old age? Solihull care home to host free advice event

As part of a nationwide initiative, a care home in Solihull is inviting local people to its free dementia advice event.

On Monday 3^rd February, from 10:30am –12 noon, Care UK’s Blossomfield Grange, on Worcester Way, is inviting members of the community to a special event as part of The Big Dementia Conversation, a nationwide initiative designed to show people how to better understand common symptoms and live well with the condition.  

While general awareness of the condition has improved, data from Care UK shows two thirds of people who have a relative living with dementia (62%) initially put their symptoms down to old age. Many Brits remain unaware of the ways older people can lead meaningful lives with the condition, prompting Care UK to relaunch its Big Dementia Conversation for the second year running. 

The ‘Dementia Café’ session at Blossomfield Grange will be a ‘sports themed’ café, reminiscing about resident’s favourite sports and school sports days. There will even be a replica UEFA European Cup that guests can have their photo taken with.

Aimed at those living with dementia and their loved ones, guests will also have the opportunity to meet other people, share experiences, and take part in fun sports day activities, including Skittles and bean bag toss. 

The home will also have live entertainment by Libby that guests can enjoy, and the team will be on-hand to provide advice on caring for a loved one with dementia, along with useful information about support in the local community. Tours of Blossomfield Grange’s new reminiscence floor, designed to help residents living with dementia, will also be available, and complimentary refreshments will be provided. 

In addition to the event, the Solihull community can also visit a newly launched online advice hub. The hub includes in-depth conversations with families of people living with dementia, as well as expert advice from Care UK’s dementia specialists to learn how to reduce the risks and symptoms of the condition.

Jag Singh, General Manager at Blossomfield Grange, said: “Here at Blossomfield Grange, we strive to create a sense of belonging within the home and provide a positive impact on the local community by building support systems for our neighbours. 

“Places like our Dementia Café are perfect for meeting people going through similar experiences, while benefiting from expert advice from our team. 

“We’d like to invite everyone to join in the Big Dementia Conversation by attending our upcoming session – we’re looking forward to welcoming new faces and old friends for a chat over a cup of tea and slice of cake and showing people our new reminiscence floor.” 

To support people who may be experiencing symptoms of dementia or their loved ones, Care UK has set up a free helpline and advice hub. To find out more, please visit: careuk.com/bigdementiaconversation

Blossomfield Grange provides luxury residential, dementia and respite care for older adults in the West Midlands. Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilling lives, while also promoting independence, the home incorporates plenty of space for hobby and leisure activities. The building has been configured into a series of neighbourhoods to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.