WHARFEDALE residents are being encouraged to discover how to be dementia friendly by attending a free dementia awareness workshop.

The event is being held in support of Dementia Action Week 2019 band takes place on Friday, May 24 in Ilkley’s Clarke Foley Centre. The session, which is open to the general public and free of charge, aims to increase understanding and awareness of dementia.

Dementia Action Week this year takes place between May 20 and 26. Ilkley & District U3A is working to become a Dementia Friendly organisation and is running the workshop to support the week’s activities.

“With an ageing population we are all likely sometime in the future to come into contact with friends or family living with dementia,” said Jean Smith, co-ordinator of the U3A Dementia Friendly Action Team. “The talks aim to help those who come along to find out how they can make a difference to people living with dementia, and their carers, through having a better understanding of the condition.”

Both U3A members and the general public are encouraged to attend the workshop. Past participants have found the session stimulating, often changing their outlook on dementia. The Ilkley U3A trustees are committed to making Ilkley U3A a dementia aware organisation and through these sessions want to encourage as many people as possible to give respect and understanding to those with dementia and help to reduce the stigma and fear surrounding it.

The workshop is on Friday, May 24 at 11am in the Small Hall at the Clarke Foley Centre, Ilkley. Further details from Jean Smith on email:jeanmsmith50@hotmail.com