We’re marking the national Dementia Action Week, from Monday 20 to Sunday 26 May, by encouraging you to follow in the footsteps of our staff and become Dementia Friends.

The Dementia Friends programme, runs by the Alzheimer’s Society, aims to change people’s perceptions of dementia and help them to learn more about the small ways to can help someone living with it. The majority of our Trust, 5,700 of them, are already Dementia Friends.

Our Dementia team will be hosting stalls at both our hospitals during the week, sharing information about the work they do as well as helping you to become Dementia Friends – all you need to do is watch a short video and you can sign up on the spot.

Alina Stevens, a nursing associate from our team, is passionate about helping people living with dementia, and has been ever since she was 11 and was taken to a care home by her stepmother when she was naughty!

Alina, of Berkeley Drive, Upminster, said: “She took me to work with her as punishment and expected me to hate it – but I loved it! I never let on though so I got to go whenever I misbehaved.

“I think it’s really important that our dementia patients are stimulated, so we’ll also have a programme of activities going on throughout the week including afternoon tea, pampering sessions for the ladies, grooming time for the men, and armchair exercises to keep them active.”

The 36-year-old will also be baking two teddy bear shaped cakes as raffle prizes to raise money for the King George and Queen’s Hospitals Charity, specifically for our Dementia team. Tickets will be on sale on the stalls, which will be held as follows:

• Queen’s Hospital atrium – Monday 20 and Friday 24 May, 9.30am to 4pm
• King George Hospital atrium – Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 May, 9.30am to 4pm.

Anyone is welcome to come along to become a Dementia Friend, find out more about what our team does, or ask any questions they may have.