Burntwood Dementia Friendly Community

10/08/2026

Protect loved ones by providing essential information with the Herbert Protocol, a risk reduction tool for swift response and peace of mind.

05/08/2026

Do you need any funding in the various groups? See ⬇️ elbow

Calling all local champions! 📣 At We Love Lichfield, we are dedicated to helping our local area flourish by providing grants to the small, hard-working community groups, charities, and voluntary organisations that make a massive difference every single day.

Whether you’re based in the heart of Lichfield, across Burntwood, or in one of our wonderful surrounding villages, we want to make sure no deserving project misses out on funding opportunities. But to do that, we need your help to spread the word! 💡

Do you know a local sports club, youth group, elderly support network, or community initiative that could use a helping hand?

Tag any small local charities, associations, or community groups in the comments below so they can find out more about what we do! Let’s work together to connect, support, and help the entire Lichfield District thrive. ✨

https://welovelichfield.com/

20/07/2026

This is a great offer, if you need help with a loved one come along and ask advice

☕ You're Not Alone. Neither Are They. 💜

Are you living with dementia, caring for someone who is, or supporting a loved one on their journey?

Home Instead Cannock and Burntwood's Memory Café offers a warm, welcoming space where people can connect, share experiences, and enjoy time together in a supportive environment.

Join us for:
☕ Free refreshments
🎨 Fun and engaging activities
🤝 Friendly conversation and companionship
💜 Support, guidance and a listening ear
🧠 Visits from the Alzheimer's Society and other dementia support organisations

📍 Burntwood Library
Every Tuesday | 10:00am - 12:00pm

📍 Cannock Library
Every Friday | 10:30am - 12:00pm

✅ Free to attend

A friendly face, a warm welcome, and a place to simply be.

For more information, contact Helena at Home Instead:
☎️ 01543 572349

Please share with anyone who may benefit from this wonderful community resource. 💜

27/06/2026

Do you know how to spot the signs of dementia?

In the early stages, symptoms can be subtle, easily overlooked and mistaken as part of ageing. Memory problems, confusion, or changes in mood and behaviour may not always raise immediate concern.

But noticing these changes matters.

It might not be dementia, but if it is, getting support early can make a real difference. An early diagnosis can help people access the right care, treatment, and guidance when they need it most.

If you recognise any of the signs in yourself or someone you care about, don’t ignore them – take that next step and speak to your GP.

You’re not alone 💙

[Image description: An infographic titled ‘Signs and symptoms of dementia’ features a light grey background and 10 navy blue illustrations accompanying each sign and symptom. From top right to bottom left, they read:Getting lost; Difficulty judging distances; Memory loss; Struggling to find the right word; Becoming easily upset; Struggling to make decisions; Acting inappropriately; Repeating questions and phrases; Putting objects in unusual places and Losing track of time and dates.]

25/06/2026

These services are wonderful

🎵 Dementia Friendly Songs of Praise 🎵

📅 Wednesday 1 July, 10:45
📍 Lichfield Cathedral
☕ Refreshments afterwards

Come and join us for a relaxed Songs of Praise service with plenty of favourite hymns to sing together.

The service lasts around 40 minutes and everyone is welcome.

To find out more or let us know you're coming, email [email protected].

19/06/2026

Feature length documentary created for Channel 4 in association with Alzheimer’s Society
For decades he told the world’s stories, now Jon Snow is sharing his own to help break the stigma that surrounds dementia. A condition that around 1 million people across the UK are living with.

Whilst coming to terms with his Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, Jon tackles one last big investigation in this new feature length documentary.

Watch Jon Snow: A Last Big Story on Saturday 20 June at 8pm on Channel 4, or stream later on Channel 4.

07/06/2026

The science of colours, see below for more useful information 💙

Why does a person with dementia walk past the bathroom?

Why do they say there is no food on the plate when the plate is full?

Why do they refuse to step on a dark rug?

The answer may be hiding in plain sight: color.

As dementia progresses, the brain doesn’t just lose memory. It also becomes less efficient at processing visual information. The brain may struggle to distinguish similar colors, judge depth, recognize objects, and interpret what the eyes are seeing.

This is why the dementia brain often depends on color and contrast to make sense of the world.

A white toilet against a white floor may seem to disappear.

A white plate on a white tablecloth may look empty.

A dark rug may be perceived as a hole in the ground.

A bathroom door painted a contrasting color may suddenly become easier to find.

Color becomes a form of communication.

🔴 Red calls for attention.

🔵 Blue promotes orientation and calm.

🟢 Green supports comfort and restoration.

🟡 Yellow improves visibility and clarity.

The real secret, however, is not color alone. It is contrast.

The dementia brain often sees contrast better than subtle shades. When important objects stand out from their surroundings, the brain spends less energy trying to interpret the environment and more energy engaging with life.

This is why dementia-friendly design is not simply about making a home beautiful.

It is about making a home understandable.

Small changes can make a remarkable difference:

✔ Contrasting plates at mealtimes

✔ Colorful bathroom doors

✔ Furniture that stands out from walls

✔ Good lighting with reduced glare

✔ Clear visual cues throughout the home

When we understand how the dementia brain sees the world, we can create environments that reduce frustration, increase independence, and preserve dignity.

Because sometimes the most powerful intervention is not a medication.

Sometimes it is simply helping the brain see.

“The dementia brain works harder to understand the world. Color is not decoration. It is communication.”

Meri L. Gaumond

brainhealth aging occupationaltherapy dementiafriendlydesign neuroscience

05/06/2026

🍽️ THE DEMENTIA FRIENDLY TABLE SETTING

Did you know that sometimes people living with dementia eat less, not because they are not hungry, but because they have difficulty seeing the food?

As dementia progresses, the brain can have trouble distinguishing objects from their background. White rice on a white plate. White fish on a white tablecloth. A busy patterned placemat. Multiple utensils. Decorative centerpieces.

What looks beautiful to us may feel confusing to the changing brain.

Now look at the dementia friendly table.

A solid colored placemat.

A brightly contrasting plate.

Simple place settings.

Good lighting.

Minimal distractions.

The food stands out.

The brain can focus on what matters.

The meal.

This is not stubbornness.

This is not a lack of appetite.

This is neurology.

The dementia brain works harder to process visual information. When we reduce visual clutter and increase contrast, we make eating easier, more successful, and more enjoyable.

Research has shown that high contrast plates, particularly red plates, may help some people living with dementia increase food intake because meals become easier to identify and navigate.

And remember, mealtime is about more than nutrition.

It is about dignity.

It is about pleasure.

It is about family.

It is about sitting together and sharing life.

Sometimes the simplest changes create the greatest success.

A different plate.

A calmer table.

A brighter room.

A better meal.

🏡 Courtesy of Dementia Care at Home™

Creating environments the changing brain can understand.

❤️ Good table design nourishes more than the body.

It nourishes dignity.

caregiversupport

28/05/2026

We are conducting a survey on your perceptions and understanding of dementia.

Your answers will help us improve local support, raise awareness, and make sure our community has the right resources across .

📝 The survey only takes a few minutes, and all responses are anonymous.

➡️ Find the link to the survey in the comments.