9MWR LLW Action Project

1. Dementia 9MWR LLW Action Project

2. Introduction • We focused on Dementia for our action project • This is a cruel disorder that can affect anyone and potentially tear close family bonds apart • Included in this PowerPoint are facts and information we have gathered throughout the project A normal brain compared with an Alzheimer’s disease brain. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of Dementia.

3. Some facts on Dementia • Dementia is a condition that affects the brain and mainly results in memory loss. • It can affect anyone, but people over the age of 60 are at risk most, with 30 million cases worldwide. • Unfortunately at the moment there is no cure. • The most common type of Dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which is the type in 50% to 70% of cases. • In around half of all cases of Dementia, the person is 85 years or over. • Common symptoms are memory loss, less able to think, emotional problems, language problems and a decrease of motivation (behaviourally). • As well as Alzheimer’s disease, other types of dementia include Parkinson’s disease and vascular dementia.

4. Progress on a cure Positive points • There are promising areas of research going on which could lead to a cure. • There is an increasing improvement on Dementia care. • There have been many advances on psychological care to improve memory and remind them of their former selves. • Many charities, like the Alzheimer’s Society and Dementia Friends, along with many universities are trying to help with their findings to try and make a cure. Negative points • Since Dementia was discovered in 1906 by Dr Alois Alzheimer, not much has been found out about it. • Dementia charities believe a lack of funding compared to other conditions is slowing down progress. • It could take years or decades to come up with a cure at the current rate.

5. What did 9MWR do? On 15th May 2015, we welcomed Mrs. M Burke from the Alzheimer's Society. In preparation for the visit, we took it upon ourselves to organise and communicate with Mrs Burke to arrange a suitable time. Further work carried out by Mrs. Burke focused on our knowledge of what we considered to be the effects/causes of dementia. We were also asked to read through various statements on a worksheet and comment on whether they believed the text to be True or False. We watched a video from the perspective of a dementia sufferer and how they are portrayed by other people. This was very thought provoking

6. What did 9MWR do? How did we attempt to make students aware of this disease? • Alzheimer's awareness wrists bands sold and ‘guess the sweets in the jar’ competition. All the money gathered would be given to the charity. • Posters giving information about Dementia located in the Atrium. • Handing out official material from the Alzheimer’s awareness society • A quiz with a prize.

7. What did 9MWR do?

8. What did 9MWR do? Congratulations to Euan Johnston who recently raised £50 for Alzheimer’s awareness at a local 10K run event!!

10. For further information… There are several sites that you can notify if you have Dementia. Here are the websites of some of them: • www.dementiafriends.org.uk • www.alzheimers.org.uk • www.alz.co.uk All these sites are free and confidential and will be helpful in helping you to get used to having Dementia in a good way and lead you for a better life.

11. What could we have done differently? • Used the Bangor Grammar LLW Twitter page to advertise the action project • Get Mrs Burke (Alzheimers awareness representative) to talk to all Year 8s and 9s. • Improve the video to make it better for the audience • Maybe a quiz online to make it easier to fill out and pick a winner

12. Quiz time! Please pick up a copy of the quiz as you leave. Fill in the Quiz to be in with a chance of winning a prize! Give your sheet to a member of the 9MWR group at lunchtime in the Atrium

13. Thank You For Listening!