This week we hand over to Senior Lecturer Dr Catrin Hedd Jones to hear about some of the activities that took place during Dementia Action Week…
Sometimes it is the simple conversations, those moments of sharing, listening, and reflecting that make the biggest difference in how we understand dementia.
I’m sure Dementia Action Week has been a busy time for many, with colleagues and communities raising awareness and attending events.
Our week began with two public talks at The Hive library in Worcester. The Hive, Europe’s first fully integrated public and university library, provides an excellent space for sharing our research and education from the Association for Dementia Studies (ADS), alongside county‑wide reminiscence resources such as the “Memories and Me” programme.
Library staff explained that they offer 17 themed “Memories and Me” loanable bags. It was particularly encouraging to hear from a couple who found these resources helpful in supporting conversation and creating enjoyable, meaningful activities. You can read more about this Arts Council England–funded project in one of our previous blog posts.
There were also collective craft sessions throughout the week, where people created forget‑me‑nots to contribute to a future artwork highlighting dementia at community events.
Our sessions focused on what can support life with dementia. We explored how both the environment and the attitudes of people around us can shape wellbeing and resilience following a diagnosis. This research highlights that resilience is supported through a combination of personal, community, and societal resources –
Link to journal article
Our work at ADS continues to strive to make a difference. The studies shared reflected this, including Meeting Centres, “Food Glorious Food,” and our new research project on noise, hearing impairment and dementia. The “Crossing the Line” booklets on supporting personal care were also very popular.
We followed the library sessions with an online Q&A for university staff, offering a space to bring questions and share learning with the ADS education team. We hope to continue these “Dementia Conversations” in the future, recognising that dementia will touch many within our university community whether directly or through family, friends, and colleagues.
It is these moments hearing people’s stories, sharing learning, and reflecting together that stay with us. They remind us why this work matters, and how much can be achieved when we create spaces where conversations about dementia feel open, supported, and valued.
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