Bringing Our Community Together for Dementia Awareness at Valerian Court
We were delighted to welcome families, professionals and members of the local community to Valerian Court for an informative dementia awareness session, led by Dementia Oxfordshire. This week, we welcomed 35 guests to our care home in Didcot for a special talk to increase understanding of dementia and offer practical insight into the experiences of people living with dementia and those around them.
Learning About Dementia
The session was delivered by Katie Smok, Locality Manager for Dementia Oxfordshire. Katie spoke about the different types of dementia, common symptoms and the impact dementia can have on memory, behaviour, mood and wellbeing.
We also explored why changes in behaviour can occur and how families, friends, professionals and care teams can provide appropriate support to individuals living with dementia. Dementia Oxfordshire’s team of Dementia Advisers supports people living with a diagnosis of dementia across Oxfordshire, as well as their families and wider support networks, while also working to raise awareness and improve understanding of living with the condition.
Enjoying an Informative Afternoon
The session was warmly received by everyone who attended, with guests praising Katie’s informative presentation. Many also commented on how welcoming the afternoon felt, with plenty of opportunity to learn and ask questions.
Tracey thanked us for the session, describing it as “very interesting”. Lyn shared that she had found the talk “very informative,” while Angie praised both Katie and Valerian Court for hosting, calling it “a really clear, informative, and useful session”.
Remembering Together
As part of the afternoon, our residents created a beautiful display of forget-me-nots in memory of those living with dementia. The display provided a thoughtful reminder of the many people and families affected by the condition and gave us all a moment to reflect.
This successful event forms part of our ongoing commitment at Valerian Court to supporting residents, families and the wider community through opportunities to raise awareness and encourage meaningful conversations around care and wellbeing.
A Message From Our Home Manager
Our manager, Andrei, said: “We were delighted to welcome Katie and so many members of our local community to Valerian Court for this important and informative session. Dementia touches the lives of so many families, so creating opportunities to learn more, ask questions and share experiences is incredibly valuable. We would like to thank Katie for sharing her knowledge and everyone who joined us for making the afternoon such a success. We look forward to hosting more talks and community events in the future.”
We would like to thank Katie and Dementia Oxfordshire for delivering the session, as well as everyone who attended and helped make the afternoon such a success. We are already looking forward to welcoming our local community to further talks and events in the future.
If you would like to learn more about the care we provide at Valerian Court, as well as any further information regarding dementia care and support, do not hesitate to contact us today. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
