Our annual event had information, guidance and music.
Hundreds of local people discovered the depth of support available to people living with dementia at a special event held last Friday.
Watch our video on the Dementia Festival 2023
The East Hampshire Dementia Festival, run by EHDC and Petersfield Dementia Friendly, hosted all the services, support groups, charities and organisations that can help people with the condition.
Now in its third year, with a break for the pandemic, the festival is a well-established event on the calendar.
Held at Petersfield Festival Hall it played host to around 30 groups running information stands, crafts and activities, presentations from legal and medical experts and provided performances from the Petersfield Dementia Choir.
Jeff Williams, of Dementia Friendly Petersfield, said: “There is so much help and support for people with dementia and their families, but often people don’t know where to get it.
“At the East Hampshire Dementia Festival, it is here, all under one roof.
“With local groups like the choir and our regular walking football games, there are ways you can keep your mind and body active and slow down the effects of dementia.
“What the whole event shows us is that, with the right help, you can live well with dementia.”
Cllr Julie Butler, EHDC Deputy Leader, said: “This is such an important event for people and provides so much help to where it is really needed.
“Welfare and support to our most vulnerable residents is one of EHDC’s top priorities and you can see the benefits an event like this brings to people.
“We have helped to fund the event and our officers have been instrumental in running it, but we must offer huge congratulations
to Jeff Williams who continues to push forward the issue of dementia.”
Dementia is a growing issue in East Hampshire and across the country. There are more than 18,000 people in Hampshire with dementia and it is estimated to affect one in six people over 80 and one in 14 over 65.