HOME Instead Ilkley holding its first Ilkley Dementia Awareness Day, offering the community the opportunity to understand dementia from a new perspective.

On Friday, November 8, attendees will have the opportunity to board the Dementia Experience Bus at the Clarke Foley Community Centre in Ilkley. This immersive experience enables participants to witness first hand the challenges faced by people living with dementia.

The event also features a memory support drop-in staffed by a memory support worker, the Home Instead Ilkley team and other local dementia specialists, offering guidance to anyone seeking support for themselves or a loved one.

The Dementia Bus, developed by Training 2 Care, is no ordinary training tool. Through a powerful simulation, participants are placed in an environment that replicates the sensory and cognitive difficulties often experienced by those with dementia. By “putting themselves in the shoes” of someone with dementia, attendees gain empathy and understanding that impacts how they care for and support those affected by the condition.

Whilst spaces on the Dementia Experience are limited, there is also a memory support café running from 11am - 4pm in the Clarke Foley Centre that is available to anyone who would like advice, support or just a cuppa and a chat.

For seasoned professionals like Simon White, the director of Home Instead Ilkley for nearly a decade, the experience of the Dementia Bus was both sobering and enlightening. “It was a bit scary actually. We often make assumptions about what it’s like, but this showed us there’s still so much more we can do to make life better for our clients,” he said.

A spokesperson for Home Instead Ilkley added: "With over 900,000 people in the UK affected by dementia, raising awareness and understanding is vital. Events like Home Instead’s Ilkley Dementia Awareness Day offer community members a transformative experience that enhances empathy, supports families, and builds a dementia-friendly community. The success of previous events has highlighted the profound impact such experiences have on both attendees and the wider community.

"Join us to better understand dementia and help make Ilkley a community where those with dementia and their families feel seen, understood, and supported."

The awareness day takes place on Friday, November 8 from 10am to 4pm at the Clarke Foley Community Centre, Ilkley. Admission is free and is open to the public.