Breaking down barriers during Dementia Action Week

Ahead of Dementia Action Week, we sat down with Hannah Gardner, our Admiral Nurse who specialises in dementia care. She told us about how her work addresses the common misconceptions surrounding dementia and explained her role in the community.

The bulk of Hannah’s role involves raising awareness of dementia, getting it in the spotlight and giving it the attention it deserves. It’s about campaigning for support and recognising it as a disease of the brain - not just a normal process of aging.

“The campaign slogan this year is 'it’s not called getting old, it’s called getting ill',” Hannah explained. “Think about someone who might be in a shop and taking longer to count their money. These things are often thought of as just getting old and slowing down - but actually, this person could have dementia.

“I help train professionals all across Hertfordshire with spotting the signs,” she continued. “I also provide dementia awareness training to staff and volunteers that join the Hospice.”

Hannah became an Admiral Nurse after her own mother was diagnosed with early onset dementia in her early 50s. She knows first-hand how overwhelming a diagnosis can be for patients, their families and carers, and provides emotional support, a listening ear and guidance on local services.

“You get so many people struggling out there with not enough support and they don’t know where to turn,” she concluded. “Dementia is devastating - it’s a horrible disease, so it really is rewarding to use my experience to support families and carers and also help train people with recognising dementia.”