{"id":1023,"date":"2026-05-28T14:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/28\/dementia-conversations\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T14:30:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T14:30:00","slug":"dementia-conversations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/28\/dementia-conversations\/","title":{"rendered":"Dementia conversations"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This week we hand over to Senior Lecturer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worcester.ac.uk\/about\/profiles\/catrin-hedd-jones\">Dr Catrin Hedd Jones<\/a> to hear about some of the activities that took place during Dementia Action Week\u2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes it is the simple conversations, those moments of sharing, listening, and reflecting that make the biggest difference in how we understand dementia.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m sure Dementia Action Week has been a busy time for many, with colleagues and communities raising awareness and attending events.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our week began with two public talks at The Hive library in Worcester. The Hive, Europe\u2019s first fully integrated public and university library, provides an excellent space for sharing our research and education from the Association for Dementia Studies (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.worcester.ac.uk\/about\/academic-schools\/school-of-health-and-wellbeing\/health-and-wellbeing-research\/association-for-dementia-studies\/home.aspx\">ADS<\/a>), alongside county\u2011wide reminiscence resources such as the \u201cMemories and Me\u201d programme.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Library staff explained that they offer 17 themed \u201cMemories and Me\u201d 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\u2013funded project in <a href=\"https:\/\/adsdementiablog.wordpress.com\/2025\/05\/29\/worcestershire-libraries-memories-and-me-project\/\">one of our previous blog posts<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There were also collective craft sessions throughout the week, where people created forget\u2011me\u2011nots to contribute to a future artwork highlighting dementia at community events.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 \u2013 <br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/37020427\/\">Link to journal article<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our work at ADS continues to strive to make a difference. The studies shared reflected this, including Meeting Centres, \u201cFood Glorious Food,\u201d and our new research project on noise, hearing impairment and dementia. The \u201cCrossing the Line\u201d booklets on supporting personal care were also very popular.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"244\" data-attachment-id=\"4743\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/adsdementiablog.wordpress.com\/2026\/05\/28\/dementia-conversations\/daw-stands\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/adsdementiablog.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/daw-stands.png\" data-orig-size=\"1239,296\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"DAW stands\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/adsdementiablog.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/daw-stands.png?w=1024\" src=\"https:\/\/adsdementiablog.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/daw-stands.png?w=1024\" alt=\"The Memories and Me stand, information about the Forget-me-not appeal, and the ADS stand with copies of our Crossing the Line booklets.\" class=\"wp-image-4743\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We followed the library sessions with an online Q&amp;A for university staff, offering a space to bring questions and share learning with the ADS education team. We hope to continue these \u201cDementia Conversations\u201d in the future, recognising that dementia will touch many within our university community whether directly or through family, friends, and colleagues.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is these moments hearing people\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Connect with ADS on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/adsuow\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/dementiastudies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.threads.net\/@dementiastudies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Threads<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/association-for-dementia-studies-uow\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LinkedIn,<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/dementiastudies.bsky.social\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bluesky<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dementiastudies?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Twitter<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This week we hand over to Senior Lecturer Dr Catrin Hedd Jones to hear about some of the activities that 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