Organisations across the county will be supporting Dementia Action Week which starts today (Monday, Mayt 20)

Dementia Action Week aims to unite individuals, workplaces and communities to take action and improve the lives of people living with dementia.

“Unfortunately there are many people living with dementia in Pembrokeshire,” said Laura Evans, Library Development Officer.

“It is important that we do all we can to raise awareness of the condition and to help those people who are living with it.”

Reminiscence sessions will be the focus in some libraries, with members of the public invited to bring along old photographs of their local area to help people recall events, places or people.

Craft activities will be taking place to make ‘twiddle sheets’, that provide visual, tactile and sensory stimulation to people with dementia, with the finished sheets being donated to local groups and charities.

Libraries in Pembrokeshire offer a range of books about dementia, including the ‘Reading Well Books on Prescription for dementia’ collection.

The collection, which has been recommended by experts and endorsed by well-known charities and health organisations, provides information and advice for living well after diagnosis, as well as personal stories and practical support.

Information on all Dementia Action Week events taking place at local libraries will be available from: www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/libraries-and-culture, on the Libraries Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PembrokeshireLibraryService; or ask at your local library for details

Pembrokeshire’s ‘visual inspiration’ will be the subject of a special event at Tenby Library on Tuesday (May 21) from 6.30 pm.

As part of Dementia Action Week, author and photographer Emyr Young will be talking about his book Pembrokeshire – Memory’s Hunting Ground.

The work is a collection of photographs of Pembrokeshire, inspired by the author’s memories of growing up and living in the county.

Emyr will be sharing his experiences of developing the book, and showcasing some of the many photographs featured within it.

The event is free to attend and no booking is required.

For more information, contact Tenby Library on 01437 775 151.

There will also be Dementia Friendly Engagement Event held at St Teilo’s Church Hall, St Florence Parade, Tenby on Thursday from 2 to 4 pm.

This event will be hosted by Dementia Communities, The Alzheimer’s Society and The Royal Voluntary Service.

Light refreshments will be provided. Everyone is welcome.

STAFF SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH WEEK

Staff from Pembrokeshire County Council have been showing their support for Mental Health Awareness this week by taking part in early-morning exercise taster classes.

Fitness instructor and social services secretary Tina Mathias ran the Aerobics, Hoopacise, and HIIT Spin sessions at Haverfordwest Leisure Centre.

Donations were invited for the DPJ Foundation, which supports people in rural communities with poor mental health, especially men in the agricultural sector, and ‘Get the Boys a Lift’, a new café and drop-in centre in Dew Street, Haverfordwest, supporting people ‘just about managing’ with their mental health.

Tina praised all the staff who came to the taster sessions and said everyone left ‘beaming’.

“Self-esteem, depression, anxiety and stress are all positively affected through exercise,” she said.

And Tina knows well how much exercise contributes to a positive state of mind. Until a few years ago, she was overweight, unfit and struggling to deal with a family bereavement and serious illness. After reaching rock bottom and following a frank and honest talk with a close friend, she set about turning her life around.

She cut out alcohol, limited her calorie intake, and the weight soon fell off. But exercise was key, she said.

“I returned to the gym and gradually increased what I was doing. I started spin classes and then tried other things such as circuits, weight training and the Go-Tri mini triathlon series,” she said.

Within a year, she had lost 12 stone and was enjoying spin classes so much that she decided to train as a spinning instructor.

Tina encouraged anyone who feels their mental health could be improved to consider taking up exercise – no matter how gentle.

“There is a class out there for everyone.”

“I strongly believe you do not need to be a size 8 or be super fit to attend classes or indeed teach them. A lot of classes are about the social experience and for me making my members smile, move and sing along makes me beam.

“Try it, you will feel those happy endorphins release in your body and you will be hooked, exercise isn’t always about being the fittest person in the class, it can also be about being the happiest too.”