NNUH launch #iCare social media campaign to mark Dementia Awareness Week

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) is promoting awareness and understanding of dementia by launching the #iCare social media campaign.

NNUH is showing its support ahead of Dementia Awareness Week (18th – 24th May) and encouraging the public of Norfolk to think about dementia with its #iCare campaign.

To help raise awareness of the condition and the variety of ways people can help, the hospital is asking all to join in the social media campaign by tagging any dementia friendly activities with the hashtag #iCare.

Activities can include being a dementia friend, being a dementia champion or simply having a cup of tea and a chat with a neighbour.

Liz Yaxley, NNUH Dementia service manager commented: “There are a number of things we can do in Norfolk to help people with Dementia and you don’t need to be a medical expert to help. Simple activities such as having a cup of tea and a chat with a parent or grandparent, stopping by and checking on a lonely neighbour or training to be a dementia champion or friend.

“Whatever the activity is, no matter how small, please tweet us a photo or phrase using the #iCare to help spread the word about dementia and provide others with ideas of how you can help.”

A network of more than 100 dementia “links” was launched at NNUH in January in order to promote good practice in meeting the needs of patients with dementia. Many of the dementia links staff have also become dementia champions which means that they can train others to become Dementia Friends, an initiative supported by the Alzheimer’s society.

Key facts include :
• An estimated 16,400 people in Norfolk have dementia (either diagnosed or undiagnosed). Equivalent to 1 in every 53 people in Norfolk or the populations of Cromer, Hunstanton and Holt combined.
• There are about 26 new cases of dementia per year per 1000 population of over 65s in Norfolk (diagnosed or undiagnosed). That equivalent to about 78 new people getting dementia in Wymondham per year.
• Over the next 20 years there will be an estimated additional 9,000 people with dementia. That is equivalent to the whole population of Downham Market. The greatest growth will be in people over 90 years old.

REF: Living in Norfolk with Dementia: A Health and Wellbeing Needs Assessment
Norfolk Public Health, July 2014