STAFF at Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) recently received training from Tavistock Dementia Action Alliance to increase their awareness and understanding of the issues associated with dementia.

The training was attended by rangers and visitor centre staff as well as staff working at the national park headquarters and is linked to an initiative launched by the Dementia Action Alliance which aims to make Tavistock and the national park more dementia aware and accessible.

Tony Parker, chairman of the Tavistock Dementia Action Alliance, said: ‘All our research into what it will take to ensure that Tavistock becomes more dementia-friendly indicates that the social isolation associated with the disease of dementia is a significant issue.

‘Both those with a dementia and their carers said that they wanted to continue doing what they had always done for as long as possible.

‘However, because of embarrassment and to some the stigma associated with dementia, they had stopped doing what they had always enjoyed. This ranged from going to church to playing golf or taking photographs or just walking on the moor.

‘Informal discussions with Dartmoor National Park rangers suggested that dementia-friendly walks and other activities in the national park was a possibility and so we have launched this initiative.’

Peter Harper, chairman of the DNPA, said: ‘While this is just a first step in working towards creating a dementia-friendly Dartmoor, all staff from the offices to the information centre and the rangers, are committed to making the national park more accessible to those with a dementia and their carers.

‘We support the creation of a dementia-friendly national park and in the coming months hope to continue to work with the Tavistock Dementia Action Alliance.’

If anyone would like further information on the work of the Tavistock Dementia Action Alliance or fact sheets on dementia and the role of carers, send an e-mail to [email protected] or through the alliance website www.tavistockdementia.org