Calling for a Welsh Government Statement on Dementia Action Week 2018 (May 21-27) in the Assembly Chamber yesterday, North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood asked his fellow AMs to support his eldest son who is shaving his head to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society.
Mr Isherwood’s father, Rodney Isherwood, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Vascular Dementia, passed away earlier this year. The AM’s son Myles is shaving his hair next week in memory of his Grandfather and has set up a Just Giving page in a bid to raise funds https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/myles-isherwood
Mr Isherwood referred to his father when calling for a Welsh Government Statement on Dementia Action Week.
He said:
“Formerly known as Dementia Awareness Week, 21-27 May is Dementia Action Week 2018, and I call for a Welsh Government statement accordingly. As most Members are fully aware, there are 45,000 people in Wales estimated to have dementia. This is expected to rise 35 per cent over the next couple of decades, yet only around half of individuals in Wales with dementia have a diagnosis.
“Four years ago, I became a Dementia Friend. Three months ago, my father, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Vascular Dementia, died after a fall. My eldest son is having his hair shaved on 1 June to raise money for Alzheimer's Society. He says, 'I can't change what has happened, but I can help to find a solution.' If any Members feel able to go on to Just Giving, even with £1, that would be much appreciated.
“On Wednesday, BBC One are showing a programme, The Toddlers who Took on Dementia, following a recent experiment conducted by Bangor University in Old Colwyn's dementia care home, Llys Elian, with a group of young toddlers sharing three days with older residents, to see whether spending time with them may help fight the effects of dementia. Again, I've been asked to commend that programme to this Assembly, and to others, hopefully, outside who are hearing this.
“In May 2016, Alzheimer's Society hosted many AMs at their event in the Wales Millennium Centre, about their work on creating Dementia Friendly Communities in Wales. In February, Alzheimer's Society and Ageing Well in Wales held a 'What next for Dementia Friendly Communities in North Wales?' event.
“We know that the Older People's Commissioner for Wales's 'Dementia: More than just memory loss' report in 2016 identified a continuing lack of knowledge and understanding of dementia. We also know, at that stage, Alzheimer's Society were calling for the then proposed Welsh Government Dementia Strategy to set out clear targets for increased dementia diagnosis rates, the lowest in any UK nation.
“In February 2018, the Welsh Government launched its Dementia Action Plan, but delivery, I think as the Minister said in his foreword, will be the measure of its success. So, the dementia challenge we all share is the one that we must all rise up to - and I therefore call for a Welsh Government Statement in Dementia Action Week 2018 accordingly.”
In her reply, Leader of the House Julie James AM said: “It's a very important matter that the Member raises, and I'm delighted to see both that we have an event here in the Senedd today highlighting it, and that the Member has been able to do so.”