Dementia within Asian communities can often go undetected, as families may not realise what is happening to their loved ones or where they can go for help and support.
To help raise awareness of conditions like Alzheimer’s within these communities, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust is launching a DVD on Friday (July 9).
The launch, which is taking place during Dementia Awareness Week (July 4-10), will be held at Laurel Road Community Sports Centre in Handsworth, starting at 12.30pm.
Dementia Aur Aap – or Vascular Dementia and the Asian Community - which was filmed in Hindi and subtitled in English, informs people that symptoms such as forgetfulness or memory loss should not be dismissed as part of the ageing process – and encourages families to seek advice from their GPs.
Representatives from our trust’s Birmingham Memory Assessment and Advisory Service (BMAAS) and the Alzheimer’s Society, who are working in partnership to provide this service, will also be on hand to answer questions during the event.
Robin Felton, a BMAAS team manager, said: “Working with the Alzheimer’s Society, we aim to provide a first class service to people in Birmingham with memory or cognitive difficulties.
“Our new service will enable them to receive a prompt assessment, diagnosis and follow up support from a dementia adviser. In short we want to help these people live their lives to the full.
“Dementia awareness week is a great opportunity to raise the profile of BMAAS which is now live and talking referrals from GPs.”
A person with dementia may have difficulties remembering, solving problems or concentrating. Also memory problems can affect communication if English is not the person’s first language.
Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia, after Alzheimer’s, and is caused by problems in the supply of blood to the brain.
Berni Blackledge, a support services manager for Alzheimer’s Society, said: '' We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Heath NHS Foundation Trust during our own Alzheimer's awareness week.
“Raising awareness of dementia and how it can impact on the lives of our diverse groups and citizens is a high priority for us all.”
