Dementia Activists are people who accept their diagnosis of whatever type of dementia they have and are determined to keep living their lives to the best of their ability with their new-found status of “living with dementia”. They talk about it on video and to their friends and families, and write about it in diaries, books, plays, and poems.

Singing and dancing and playing music are rated the very best activities to keep the brain active and interested – especially in groups and choirs to share with others in community.

Sports activities are popular – especially remembering “that goal” in your favourite football team – sports clubs hold special quiz nights and show films of historical matches.

Walking groups welcome people living with dementia to share the outdoors and spotting birds and animals and welcoming the seasons in nature – life never stops.
For those who enjoy making things, there are many crafts activities out there and painting and photography are creative ways to maintain our interests in life.

That is why we set up Dementia Friendly Tweeddale to engage with the local population and their dementia needs and to enable community links to activities and hobbies for people diagnosed with dementia to carry on their normal lives and be included as they were before.

We are Supported by official bodies

At Dementia Friendly Tweeddale we engage with official bodies and organisations – Scottish Government, Scottish Borders Council and NHS Borders to keep up to date with new developments and strategies that affect us in Tweeddale.

So much information is out there to inform us about dementia and the state of community involvement, starting with this link to Scottish Govt.  

Which tells us about the new 10 year dementia plan phase

Dementia in Scotland: Everyone’s Story – It’s called “Everyone’s Story” because it belongs to all of us.

“It is the culmination of eight months of engagement with people across Scotland, focussed on how we improve delivery.” We are very proud to say that Dementia Friendly Tweedale members contributed to this information gathering.

Scottish Borders Council have published their next 5 year plan here www.scotborders.gov.uk/downloads/file/12884/sbhscp-dementia-strategy-2024-29

There’s a lot of theory but towards the end of the document we notice “Living Well With Dementia” and various elements such as Social Prescribing and Community. That means that our local authority and NHS departments are learning to care in a meaningful way which is person-centred.

Third Sector Organisations

Alzheimer Scotland and Age Scotland – about Dementia 

DFT is a member of Alzheimer Scotland and Age Scotland – About Dementia. Both these organisations are vital to keep us in touch with training courses and funding sources.

Not only that, but they engage us in surveys and listen to what we tell them at the grassroots.

We work together to shape future plans for dealing with the ongoing increase in the numbers of people living with dementia. We are all Dementia Activists.