Hannah Mills, Senior Customer Relations Manager at Fenchurch House Care Home in Spalding, has taken on a pivotal role in supporting people living with dementia across South Holland and surrounding rural communities by taking on the role as Vice Chair for the Dementia Friendly Community Initiative led by South Holland District Council.
Already actively involved with the South Holland Dementia Friendly Community, led by Polly Clarey who is currently Chairing the initiative, Hannah has recently undertaken training and has been onboarded as a Dementia Friends Ambassador with the Alzheimer’s society to deliver Dementia Friends sessions to both private individuals and organisations across the county.
In addition, one of the elected members who has been hugely influential in the process of setting up the DFC is Councillor Tracey Carter in her capacity as Portfolio Holder for Strategic and Operational Housing. Tracey and Hannah will both be stepping up to become a Dementia Friends Ambassador and working closely with the Alzheimer’s society to continue to deliver their message and the 5 key principles.
Tracey Carter, Portfolio Holder for Strategic Operational Housing, and Councillor Liz Sneath, Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, said: “We are delighted to see the Dementia Friendly Community take shape in South Holland and we recognise the dedication from our officers that has gone into getting it off the ground.
“This initiative will play an important role in improving the lives of people living with dementia, as well as supporting their families and carers. By working together with partners across the district we can raise awareness, challenge stigma and help create a community where people feel understood, valued and supported.”
Hannah Mills, Vice Chair of SHDC DFC and Senior Customer Relations Manager for Country Court Care Group, said: “Collectively as members we all have a shared interest in Dementia and are extremely passionate about our community becoming as Dementia Friendly as possible.
“Our aim is to ultimately reduce the risk to those living with Dementia becoming isolated, reduce stigma and offer support to those living with Dementia and their loved ones. This approach is extremely varied and can include onboarding local business organisations to ensure that a Dementia Friendly approach is considered by all staff, as well as onboarding individuals in the community to raise awareness. We invite anyone interested in joining the initiative to get in touch.”
The South Holland Dementia Friendly Community is a local initiative supported by South Holland District Council which has been jump started by Polly Clarey. Various groups have been set up to work collaboratively with community organisations, healthcare professionals, and council representatives to raise awareness of dementia, promote inclusivity, and improve access to services across the region. The initiative focuses not only on urban centres but also on ensuring that rural areas are not left behind when it comes to vital support and signposting.
The group is currently working on bringing together local information and resources into one central, accessible guide that can be shared with individuals and families across South Holland and further developing the Community Connectors to ensure appropriate signposting is available to those living in the community. The aim is to empower people with the knowledge they need to access the right support at the right time.
Fenchurch House Care Home, part of the Country Court group, is well known for its dementia-friendly care and facilities, and this latest community involvement underscores the home’s ongoing commitment to supporting those living with dementia both within the home and in the wider community.
For more information about getting involved with the initiative, please contact Hannah Mills on 07745 541057 or email Hannah.mills@countrycourtcare.com
Main image shows Hannah Mills
