MOVES are being made to make Cardenden, Benarty and Lochgelly 'Dementia Friendly'.

Helping get the message across is local councillor, Rosemary Liewald, who said this week that there are plans to hold special courses in the three communities.

Rosemary, chair of the Fife Health and Social Care Integrated Joint Board, feels that Dementia Awareness Training Courses will refresh people's existing knowledge of dementia and ensure they have the latest updates on advancements and treatments.

She said: "By the end of any course, it is hoped that we as an IJB and Full Council, will be able to understand firstly the main diseases which cause dementia, how to recognise the early and later signs of dementia, the importance of early diagnosis, the stigma around dementia, the theory of person-centred dementia care and how to put this into practice.

"More importantly the importance of involving family members and offering support and how to communicate appropriately with someone with dementia. How to care for someone who is displaying challenging behaviour and the vital the role of medication, plus the key principles of the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards".

She added: "Ward 8, Lochgelly, Cardenden and Benarty, is a close community of villages with a strong history of social care and intergenerational care, where families have looked after each other through strong link of industry and work.

"Major changes have occurred in our communities over the years and sadly some of those links may not be as strong as they once were but we, however, can do our very best to bring back that involvement and one of the ways is by becoming a Dementia Friendly Ward.

"This can be done very easily by community groups, retail outlets, church groups, schools and library staff coming together and taking part in the Dementia Awareness training that is carried out by Fife Council.

"This would only involve an hour and half of an afternoon or evening where the aspects of the course are discussed and the important knowledge is passed on to all who take part.

"Over the next few weeks myself and Ruth McCabe are planning a series of sessions throughout Cardenden , Lochgelly and Benarty to bring together these interested members of our community and will be presenting the vital information needed to become Dementia Friendly communities.

"The likely venues will be The Corrie Centre , the Lochgelly Centre and the Benarty Centre."

Rosemary added that if they can create a Dementia Friendly Community across Fife then people living with a diagnosis of dementia in their lives will be able to do what they have always done. That means going to the same shops, banks, building societies, cafés, pubs, libraries, museums, galleries, sports clubs, churches and anywhere else that is “normal” in their lives.

"The Dementia Friendly Fife Project has two key components. One is to assess physical spaces to give advice on how to create dementia friendly signage. The other part is to make sure everyone has a better understanding of dementia and how it can affect people at all stages of the illness. This is achieved by becoming a dementia friend. This training is open to everyone and can be taken on line through a 15 minute course or at an hour long face to face session," she said.

"With one in three of us likely to get dementia it is really important for us all to know where to get information and support and how to look after ourselves and any family, friends or work colleagues who may get diagnosed.

"Knowledge and understanding about how to live well with dementia is the key to all of us being able to stay at home and continue to be part of the communities we know and love and where we are known and loved".

If you are interested in becoming dementia friendly then contact Ruth McCabe on Ruth.McCabe@fife.gov.uk, or on 03451 555555, Ext 473858.