Tower Hamlets Speaker becomes a Dementia Friend

Muhammad Talha

CLLR SHAFI AHMED, the Speaker of Tower Hamlets Council, has completed training to become a Dementia Friend: a person who learns about dementia so they can help their community.

Too many people affected by dementia feel that society fails to understand the condition they live with. Dementia Friends help by raising awareness and understanding, so that people living with dementia can continue to live in the way they want.

Cllr Shafi is the first of the Borough’s Speakers to make a Dementia Friendly pledge. During his official engagements he will encourage educational and faith institutes in Tower Hamlets to host Dementia Friends Ambassadors to help increase awareness and learning.

Dementia Friend Ambassador Emdad Rahman (left) joins Cllr Shafi Ahmed (right) in the Speaker’s Robing Room.

After completing an information session with Dementia Friends Ambassador Emdad Rahman, the Speaker shared his thoughts. “I’m really pleased to have become a Dementia Friend,” he said, “and it gives me excellent insight when meeting people in my community who have been diagnosed and are living with dementia. Becoming a Dementia Friend will help countless people to understand what it might be like to live with Alzheimer’s Disease. With tolerance, respect, understanding and support there’s no reason why people living with dementia can’t live happy and fulfilled lives.”

The Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme is the biggest ever initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia. It aims to transform the way the nation thinks, acts and talks about the condition.

●Whether you attend a face-to-face Information Session or watch the online video, Dementia Friends is about learning more about dementia and the small ways in which you can help. From telling friends about the Dementia Friends programme to visiting someone you know living with dementia, every action counts. For more information, go to:
www.dementiafriends.org.uk

●Read more stories about dementia:
Dementia

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