Caremark Thanet's Dementia Conference 23 April 2019

Dementia in Thanet

The Alzheimer's Society suggests that in the UK this year 225, 000 will develop dementia, a rate of approximately one person every three minutes. 

Dementia respects no-one. It has no sympathy for illness, for gender, for status. Dementia will touch the lives of many of us. It is estimated that in Thanet there are over 2000 people living with dementia and this figure will rise to approximately 3000 in 2026. In Kent the figures are over 22 000 people currently living with dementia, rising to over 30 000 in 2026. Nationally, it is estimated that there may be some 850,000 people living with dementia. One of the biggest challenges for people affected by dementia is finding reliable information. And information is the principal aim behind our dementia conference. 

Information About Dementia: The Challenge

Finding information about dementia is sometimes very challenging. Sometimes you can’t quite find what you want; sometimes there seems too little information, and sometimes far too much – often conflicting – information. 

The aim of our dementia conference is to bring together a number of experts in dementia and related areas and an audience of people with an interest in dementia. The event is open generally to the public. If you know anyone who might benefit from attending our conference, please pass on details to them. 

The event will be held at the Yarrow Hotel, Ramsgate Road, Broadstairs CT10 1PN. It starts at 10.00 am and runs through to approximately 13.00 pm. This may not answer all the questions that you have. If it does not, it may well sign post you in the right direction to find answers.   

Organising conferences that give information about various areas of health and social care is something that we will be doing much more in the future. If you want more information about our dementia conference or future events, please contact Jemma Clayton on 01843 235910.

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website atwww.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Caremark Thanet's Cheese and Wine Evening

On Friday 15 September we held a cheese and wine evening for our customers. The event was held at Smith's Court Hotel in Margate. The hotel is a fantastic venue for events like this. We have used the hotel for training days, recruitment days and now our cheese and wine evening, and we are never disappointed.

Our evening had several aims. Firstly, we wanted to say a little thank you to our customers and provide an opportunity for them to meet and socialize with each other.

Secondly, our customers had the chance to meet some of the Caremark Thanet staff whom they would not under normal circumstances have a chance to meet.

Thirdly, and very importantly, we provided an opportunity for customers, their families and friends to get expert advice from specialist dementia nurses, Karen Scrivener and Lorna Shadbolt, who were joined on the night by Victoria Adley who is the Fund Raising and Development Officer for East Kent Hospitals. We'd like to say a very big thank you to Victoria, Lorna and Karen for giving so generously of their time.

Victoria, Karen and Lorna are pictured below with one of our customers.

The feedback from those who attended was extremely positive. The specialist dementia advice was particularly well received. Such was the success of the evening that we intend to do other events throughout the year.

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.