Penarth dementia event takes place as UK cases near million

The Herald Scotland

3 days ago

The event came with one shared mission, to turn Penarth into a more inclusive, informed space for people living with dementia.
Mayor Emma Richards with Phil Batchelor and local community lead Miles Utting. (Image: Phil Batchelor) The event was officially opened by Penarth's newly elected mayor, Emma Richards, who stood alongside Dementia Friendly Penarth chair Phil Batchelor and local community lead Miles Utting.
More than 20 organisations participated, offering resources, support, and hands-on advice to residents and caregivers. Groups included the Cardiff & Vale NHS Memory Team, Alzheimer's Society, Marie Curie, Telecare, South Wales Police and Penarth Library among many others.
The Alzheimer's Society at The Paget Rooms on Thursday, May 22nd. (Image: Phil Batchelor)
Mr Batchelor said: "What truly moved me during these discussions was hearing first hand how community members felt empowered by sharing their experiences.
"It reminded me that our strength lies in coming together and caring for one another."
According to the latest estimates from Alzheimer's Research UK, nearly 1 million people in the UK are currently living with dementia, a figure expected to soar to 1.4 million by 2040.
New data from the Office for National Statistics reveals that more than 47,000 people across Wales are currently living with a diagnosed case of dementia. Urban and coastal regions are seeing substantially higher rates.
One such hotspot is the Vale of Glamorgan, where an estimated 2,300 to 3,400 people are living with dementia.
NHS information desk at The Paget Rooms on Thursday, May 22nd. (Image: Phil Batchelor)
Research from the 2023 Dementia Attitudes Monitor reveals only 36 per cent of the UK public believe it's possible to reduce the risk of developing dementia, despite evidence suggesting that up to 40 per cent of cases are linked to modifiable lifestyle factors like exercise, diet, and smoking.
The campaign's theme, Turning Penarth Blue, was a call to action, designed to paint the town with compassion, resources, and real understanding of the challenges people with dementia face every day.
While more than half of adults in the UK know someone with dementia, many still fail to recognise it as a terminal condition. Only 60 per cent of the public accept that dementia is a cause of death, according to national surveys.
Mr Batchelor said: "We're changing that narrative. With support, research, and awareness, we can all be part of creating a better future, for Penarth, for Wales, and for the thousands of families affected by dementia every year."