In a special event leading up to Dementia Awareness Week (15th – 21st May), the Mayor of Bath marked the city’s major contribution to dementia research with a civic reception.
The reception drew in people from local charities, health networks, hospitals and general practices.
The Mayor, Councillor William Sandry, celebrated the work of Join Dementia Research and signed up to the service at the reception on 6th May, encouraging attendees to do the same and pledge their support for it.
Join Dementia Research (www.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk) is a nationwide online and telephone service that makes it easier for people to register their interest in volunteering for dementia research studies.
People who join can easily see what dementia research is taking place, both in their local area and across the country.
Since Join Dementia Research launched last year, the Bath area has contributed approximately 350 people to the service, making up a quarter of registrations from the entire West of England.
There are currently seven research studies open in the Bath area.
The Mayor said: “Dementia is one of the biggest challenges we face today. Research offers hope to develop better treatment and improve care. But to make progress we need more people to take part in more studies.
“That’s why I’m delighted that the people from Bath and the surrounding area have responded so well to the introduction of Join Dementia Research.
“Going into Dementia Awareness Week, we need to keep up that momentum and spread the word about research opportunities.”
The National Institute for Health Research’s Clinical Research Network: West of England has been working with general practices in Bath and North East Somerset to send information letters to patients over 55 years of age, inviting them to register.
Leaflets are now also available in the Bath Central Library and local branches.
Organisers hope the event, also attended by Bath’s Member of Parliament, Ben Howlett, will further cement the West of England’s position as the locality with the highest number of registrations to the service in the country.
Around 30 people attended the reception, many from organisations making pledges to support Join Dementia Research by promoting research and the service as part of their routine business.
Among them were charities Alzheimer’s Research and the Alzheimer’s Society, the Royal United Hospital, Bath and North East Somerset Council, Bath Clinical Commissioning Group, Boots Pharmacy, the Bath-based Research Institute for the Care of the Elderly (RICE), Curo, the housing and support organisation, and Sirona, the healthcare provider.
You can help beat dementia by signing up to Join Dementia Research. Find out more at www.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk or by calling Alzheimer’s Research UK on 0300 111 5111 or the Alzheimer’s Society on 0300 222 1122.
This year’s Dementia Awareness Week, 15th – 21st May, will encourage people who are worried about dementia to confront their worries by addressing it directly and seek information and advice from support organisations.
