STEPS are being taken to make Malmesbury ‘dementia friendly’.

The town council agreed last week that some of their members will undergo training to ensure they better understand the debilitating condition, as part of the Azheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme.

The scheme hopes to change people’s perceptions of dementia and aims to transform the way the nation thinks, acts and talks about the condition.

There are now over 1.7m Dementia Friends across the UK.

The topic of dementia is very personal to town councillor Kim Power, whose mother suffered from the condition.

She said: “Most of us will know a family member or friend who has this debilitating condition.

“My own lovely mum suffered in her last years, so I have personal experience of how hard it can be, not only for the person with dementia, but their carers and families.

“This is why I am keen to support the Dementia Friends initiative. It’s important we make things less lonely and isolating for people with dementia and their carers.

“So, whilst there is really good official care available for those with dementia, many may not even have an official diagnosis, especially older people who may be in the early stages and often the care of that person falls to their partner or other family.

“We can make it easier to go out and to enjoy community activities, if there is support by people and places being dementia friendly.

“We are also working on this at the new Riverside Community Centre because we want to make it a comfortable and welcoming space for everyone.”

Ollie Phipps, community engagement officer for Wiltshire Council, will be running the Dementia Friends session for the town councillors, and will be offering the session to local businesses and the community.

“The session lasts 45 to 60 minute and is an interactive session packed with activities, analogies, and myth busting,” he said.

“Participants are encouraged to adopt their own Dementia Friendly action from promoting positive messages about living well with dementia, to visiting those living with the disease or caring for those who do.”

The town council have also agreed for the town hall and facilities committee to look at making the town hall a dementia friendly building.

This will involve a number of possible improvements to the building, such as clearer signage, suitable lighting and quiet spaces for anyone feeling anxious, among other things.

Andrew Day, Alzheimer’s Society services manager in Salisbury, said: “We are delighted that Malmesbury Town Council is paving the way and encouraging other parishes in the Malmesbury Community Area to fulfil their commitment to become a Dementia Friendly Community.

“As one of the most rural counties in the South West, parish councils play a key role in helping people across Wiltshire access support.

“By becoming Dementia Friends, councillors will be able to better understand what life is like for almost 7,000 people who are living with dementia across the county.

“The momentum of our Dementia Friends programme continues to grow in Wiltshire, with nearly 14,000 people already having completed a session.

“Through this initiative we will continue to support people to increase their knowledge and understanding of dementia and reduce the isolation that people living with the condition can feel.”