Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service and Cadent team up to launch ‘memory diaries’ for the third year running

helping our community in your area safety

  • Safety scheme for people living with dementia celebrates its third year
  • 2,500 free ‘memory diaries’ given to Derbyshire residents affected by dementia so they can live safely in their own homes
  • Joint initiative between Derbyshire Fire & Rescue and gas network Cadent
 
Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service (DFRS) is proud to launch the 2020 Memory Diary, thanks to a helping hand from local gas network Cadent. 
 
The Memory Diary, which is an initiative that has gone from strength to strength in the three years since its launch, is aimed at helping those members of communities in Derby and Derbyshire who are living with dementia.
 
The idea for the first Memory Diary came from Crew Manager (CM), Lee Jones following a couple of routine ‘Safe and Well’ visits when he was asked by an accompanying relative to write his name, where he was from and the reason for his visit in a rough jotter. This was so the resident affected by memory loss could look back and remember who had visited them throughout the day and week and why.
 
CM Jones had the idea to take this concept one step further, and with support and sponsorship from Cadent, the new diary was produced, providing space for visitors to make an entry in the book, alongside reminders about general fire safety in the home and carbon monoxide awareness.
 
Crew Manager Lee Jones said, “Thanks to our partnership with Cadent, I am delighted that we have been able to provide over 2,500 memory diaries in the three years since its launch.
 
“Since the first diaries were produced we have listened to feedback and included further safety messages from our partner organisations, made week days and weekends easier to differentiate, and highlighted key dates across the year. The diary provides vital fire safety and falls prevention information on every page.”
 
Cadent Customer Vulnerability Social Programmes Delivery Manager Phil Burrows said: “Cadent Gas is really proud to be working with Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service and value our ongoing partnership that continues to allow us to raise awareness of the various programmes and services that we offer to our customers living in vulnerable situations. 
 
“As supporters of the Alzheimer’s Society, we are keen to be involved in initiatives that enable people with dementia to live safely and independently in their own homes, we are therefore delighted to be sponsoring the memory diary, providing vital safety advice and information, including carbon monoxide awareness, for the third year running.”
 
The Service has received a lot of positive feedback from members of the community who have benefited from a free memory diary.
 
One relative of a diary user said “I would like to thank you so much for the diary. My mother-in-law has dementia and we have found the diary a fantastic tool to help with the day-to-day planning of her care, in the sense of what she is doing on a day-to-day basis.  It helps her to remember the basic jobs, which if not written down in the diary, get forgotten. As a family have found it very useful to keep up-to-date with everyone’s busy lives, while still caring for my mother-in-law.”
 
Anyone who thinks a relative, neighbour or friend could benefit from a memory diary can contact prevention&inclusionadmin@derbys-fire.gov.uk
For information on how to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning go to: https://cadentgas.com/emergencies-safety/suspect-carbon-monoxide
 
For information on fire safety go to: https://www.derbys-fire.gov.uk/safety
 

Cadent

Cadent is the UK’s largest gas distribution network with a 200-year legacy.  We are in a unique position to build on strong foundations whilst encouraging the curiosity to think differently and the courage to embrace change.  Day to day we continue to operate, maintain and innovate the UK’s largest gas network, transporting gas safely and protecting people in an emergency.   Our skilled engineers and specialists remain committed to the communities we serve, working day and night to ensure gas reaches 11 million homes from Cumbria to North London and the Welsh Borders to East Anglia, to keep your energy flowing. 

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Rebecca Wright

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