Memory Lane kits to help people with dementia and their families are proving popular across the county, according to new figures announced ahead of Dementia Awareness Week (18 May-25 May).

Nottinghamshire County Council is among the first local authorities in England to develop the Memory Lane kits which are available for people to borrow from any of Nottinghamshire County Council’s libraries. The kits feature books, CDs and DVDs, themed objects and photographs. Themes include seaside, transport and life in the 1940s.

There are also Reading Well Books on Prescription dementia collections available at many libraries in the county providing a fascinating resource of information and advice.

Since they were launched last October, around 50 Memory Lane kits are being loaned out on a regular basis, and there will be displays at Newark Library, Sutton Library and Worksop Library about the kits and how they work during Dementia Awareness Week.

Bingham Library also has a day of dementia awareness activities on Tuesday, May 19 from 11am to 3pm. People can learn more about Memory Lane kits and look around the library’s Health and Wellbeing hub and other activities will include:

· Learning about becoming a Dementia Friend and finding out how you can help someone with dementia cope with everyday tasks

· Find out what support is available to you if you are a carer through various resources and information

· Take part in a Musicworks session with John Osborne, who promotes the power of personalised music for people living with dementia.

Find out more about these events and others by visiting the Council website on www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/whatson

Around 1,500 people with dementia receive support from the Council, which includes residential or nursing care, supported living, home care, day care and direct payments.

The Council is calling for residents to sign up to be a Dementia Friend in an ongoing campaign run in conjunction with Public Health England and the Alzheimer’s Society.

The Council is holding sessions to help colleagues to become Dementia Friends and improve how they interact with people living with the condition, and is encouraging other organisations to make themselves dementia friendly.

Councillor Muriel Weisz, Chair of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Adult Social Care and Health Committee and Dementia Champion for the authority, said: “Becoming a Dementia Friend is a really simple thing that everyone should do to help us start building a more dementia friendly society. It’s even easier than ever now that you can gain that understanding online.

“As with everywhere else in the country, we face a challenge on dementia in Nottinghamshire. The more people that increase their understanding and awareness of the condition by becoming Dementia Friends, however, the better we can all help those who are affected by it to live active and fulfilled lives – with help from the people around them.”

Dr Guy Mansford, chief clinical officer for NHS Nottingham West Clinical Commissioning Group said: “Recognising the symptoms and achieving a diagnosis is so important for those affected because it will enable your GP and community health teams to put in place the help you need. Some of the most common problems for people with dementia are, not being able to recognise foods, forgetting what food they like, memory loss, the fear of forgetfulness and the ability to understand and think quickly. If you are concerned about these symptoms your GP can arrange for you to attend a memory clinic. With the right support, and depending on the stage of the condition many people can continue to remain active and lead a fulfilling life.”

Dementia Friends is a programme created by the Alzheimer’s Society to give people an understanding of what it’s like to live with dementia, and the small things we can all do to make a difference to people living with it.

Anyone can register as a Dementia Friend, either by attending a 45-minute information session, or now, by watching and interacting with an online video at www.dementiafriends.org.uk