DEMENTIA sufferers in Dudley enjoyed a seaside-themed fun day as part of dementia gateway’s activity week.

To coincide with National Dementia Awareness Week (May 19-23), Dudley Council’s dementia gateways have been holding a host of activities and events to raise awareness of the condition and educate people to be less fearful and more accepting.

Visitors to the Crystal Gateway in Brierley Hill watched a Punch and Judy show and played games from days gone by including roll-a-penny and hook a duck.

Andrea Pope-Smith, director for adult services said: “The retro seaside fun day has been just one of the activities on offer this week at Dudley’s dementia gateways. It proved a great success as people with dementia can often relate better to events and activities that have taken place in the past.

We have invited residents into the gateways this week to get involved with the events on offer and to find out more about the signs, symptoms and treatment of this condition which will affect one in three of us, once over the age of 65.”

Dudley Council is also supporting the new national NHS Dementia Friends campaign and encouraging its staff and local residents to develop an understanding of dementia and the small things they can do to help make a difference to people living with the condition.

People are being urged to complete a short interactive online training course or attend a local training session to become a dementia friend.

Visit www.dementiafriends.org.uk to find out more.