Sunrise of Solihull recently celebrated the success of their local dementia café initiative with a special Christmas-themed edition.

There is nothing more rewarding for Sunrise team members than seeing our residents smile, laugh and have a good time at our warm and welcoming communities. A big part of this is ensuring they stay active and busy – especially residents who live with dementia.

A group of residents from Sunrise of Bagshot care home spent time at Sebastian’s Action Trust’s family outreach centre – The Woodlands – filling sweet cones in preparation for the charity’s Christmas Market on 7^th December.

Most people know little about the very rare condition of semantic dementia. It refers to a variant of Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which is an uncommon type of dementia that mainly impacts the frontal and temporal lobes (or front and side parts) in the brain, mainly leading to problems with mental abilities such as behaviour and language.

Sundowning is a symptom of many forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s. It refers to the changes of behaviour that can occur in the evening for people living with dementia, i.e. just when the sun is going down. This can particularly affect people with mid-stage to advanced dementia and is often known as “late-day confusion.”

What is dementia?

Dementia is not a single disease, but an umbrella term generally used to describe a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Forgetfulness is the most common symptom, however, difficulties with problem-solving, concentration and perception can also be part of this cognitive impairment.

What is dementia?

In the UK, 850,000 people live with dementia, making it one of the most common health issues among those aged 65 and over. As a general term for a decline in mental ability, dementia can impact how people feel, behave and go about their daily activities, as well as their general health.