Posted: Thursday 13 February 2020, 16:00
Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service (DFRS) is proud to launch the 2020 Memory Diary, with support from local gas network, Cadent.
The Memory Diary, which is an initiative that has gone from strength to strength in the three years since its launch, is aimed at helping members of our communities who are living with dementia.
The idea for the first Memory Diary came from Crew Manager (CM), Lee Jones, following a couple of routine Safe and Well visits where he was asked by an accompanying relative to write his name, where he was from and the reason for his visit in a rough jotter. This was so the resident affected by memory loss could look back and remember who had visited them throughout the week and why.
CM Jones had the idea to take this concept one step further, and with support and sponsorship from Cadent Gas, the new diary was produced, providing space for visitors to make an entry in the book, alongside reminders about general fire safety in the home.
CM Lee Jones said, “Thanks to our partnership with Cadent Gas, I am delighted that we have been able to provide over 2,500 memory diaries in the three years since its launch.
“Since the first diaries were produced we have listened to feedback and included further safety messages from our partner organisations, made weekdays and weekends easier to differentiate, and highlighted key dates across the year. The diary provides vital fire safety and falls prevention information on every page.”
Cadent Customer Vulnerability Social Programmes Delivery Manager Phil Burrows said: “Cadent Gas is really proud to be working with DFRS. We value our ongoing partnership with the Service allowing us to continue to raise awareness of the various programmes and services that we offer to our customers living in vulnerable situations.
“As supporters of the Alzheimer’s Society, we are keen to be involved in initiatives that enable people with dementia to live safely and independently in their own homes, we are therefore delighted to be sponsoring the memory diary, providing vital safety advice and information, including carbon monoxide awareness, for the third year running.”
DFRS has received a lot of positive feedback from members of the community who have benefited from a free memory diary.
One relative of a diary user said “I would like to thank you so much for the diary. My mother-in-law has dementia and we have found the diary a fantastic tool to help with the day-to-day planning of her care, in the sense of what she is doing on a day to day basis. It helps her to remember the basic jobs, which if not written down in the diary, get forgotten.
“As a family we have found it very useful, to keep up-to-date with everyone’s busy lives, while still caring for my mother-in-law.”
Anyone who thinks a relative, neighbour or friend could benefit from a memory diary can contact prevention&inclusionadmin@derbys-fire.gov.uk
