Turn Melksham Blue! New dementia campaign plans to plant thousands of flowers across town

A NEW campaign will turn Melksham blue to raise awareness about dementia.

The ‘Turn Melksham Blue’ campaign hopes to plant thousands of forget-me-not-seeds – the flower commonly associated with the Alzheimer’s Society – across the town.

The campaign is being led by local care home, Blenheim House, with the support of the South West in Bloom – Melksham team and the Conigre Mead Nature Reserve.

The campaign was launched last week to coincide with Dementia Action Week, and it is encouraging community groups, gardening clubs, local schools, and individuals to plant the seeds as a blossoming reminder that dementia care should be factored in to all discussions and planning for elderly care. 

Lifestyles & community liaison lead at Blenheim House Care Home, Christopher Guest, told Melksham News, “The seeds have so far been planted in Bloomers Corner in Melksham and Conigre Mead Nature Reserve, but they will be going out to community groups, allotments, school wild flower gardens, anywhere I can reach out!

“I feel the discussion of dementia should be a key factor in our local decision making as an Age Friendly town with a large population of over 50s.

“The town and its residents can really support each other by continuing to discuss dementia care in its community – how amazing would it be if dementia was a topic for debate in meetings for the town, a place where families can get support if they are struggling to understand a decline in their loved ones’ health. 

“I speak daily with families who are just looking for advice and signposting because their loved one is displaying symptoms of dementia but are too scared to broach the subject with them

“I feel campaigns like this will break down the stigma of dementia, to help us understand how to communicate with customers in our shops and to have more patience across our generations. 

“In doing so, care homes like Blenheim House can continue to treat the person and not the ‘illness’ as our residents continue to live a full and enriched life.

“Let’s use our community spaces to ‘Turn Melksham Blue’ and support people and their families living with dementia”

Chair of South West in Bloom – Melksham, Kathy Iles, adds, “Projects like Turn Melksham Blue really help to create a community understanding of the struggles of families who are living with loved ones with dementia.”

To get involved in the campaign, contact Christopher on 01225 896200.