To mark World Alzheimer’s Day, recognised globally on 21 September, the RAF welfare charity, the RAF Benevolent Fund, is highlighting its support for members of the RAF Family affected by dementia and memory loss in Grantham.
Research has found that 982,000 people are estimated to be living with dementia in the UK, with 52% of the UK public knowing someone who has been diagnosed with a form of dementia.
According to research, armed forces veterans have an increased risk of dementia due to risk factors including traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, deployment, and sleep. The RAF Benevolent Fund facilitates Dementia Reminiscence Groups for serving and retired members of the RAF, including widows and spouses, who are affected by memory loss.
The groups, based in Grantham and country-wide, allow members of the RAF Family with dementia and memory loss to share life experiences, memories and stories from the past, giving those affected a sense of competence and confidence by recalling these memorable moments.
In 2023, the RAF Benevolent Fund was awarded a grant of £82,000 from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to go towards funding up to eight Dementia Reminiscence Groups over three years.
Terry, who has benefitted from his local group in Cambridgeshire, said: “I struggle with dementia and need prompting by my wife constantly. I forget things when I’m speaking, and she fills in the gaps for me. I forget words, where I live and, more upsettingly, the names of my children. It’s scary. The group has made me feel welcome and is a safe place for my wife and I to speak and meet with people.”
Declan Geraghty, Friendships and Connections Manager at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: “We are dedicated to supporting the local RAF Family with our Dementia Reminiscence Groups, during Alzheimer’s Awareness Day and beyond. Our goal is to connect individuals affected by memory loss, whether diagnosed or not, by fostering meaningful connections. Engaging with others who share similar experiences can significantly reduce feelings of isolation and enhance overall happiness and wellbeing.”
Image: RAF Benevolent Fund’s Dementia Reminiscence Group attendees take part in the Fund’s Tin Foil Challenge in St Ives, Cambridgeshire. Credit: Ollie Dixon
