Dementia Action Week 2024

To kick off Dementia Action Week 2024, a 'Go for Gold' intergenerational sports day was organised in collaboration with Bangor University and Age Friendly Gwynedd.

Members of the Dementia Actif Gwynedd’s classes in the Bethesda/Bangor catchment area, residents of Plas Ogwen residential home, community groups, Ysgol y Faenol pupils, Bangor University students, and members of the Caban group who are experts by experience in dementia all came together to create teams of all ages in order to compete and enjoy each other’s company. Bridging the generations at its best!  

The competitors took part in 4 activities:-
- Boccia
- Penalty shoot out  
- Triathlon (sit to stand, heel raises, bicep curls)  
- Pom pom parachute

Big congratulations to the Caban team who finished first place and took the cup home   

Here are some comments from the day-

•  "the best day I've had in a long time... worth having.. I want more of them please" - resident of a residential home
•  "Participating in this fun event made me realize that I can enjoy exercise even with respiratory failure and dementia, balance and other issues. The children who were so helpful were enthusiastic and full of fun, and the activities we did have put sport back on the list of things I can and will do" - person living with dementia
•  "enjoyed it so much, I want to do it again" - resident of a residential home
•  "I really enjoyed today. I just wanted to say thank you. I enjoyed all of it and helping the people”- pupil
•  "I've enjoyed being with people of different ages. It's been a lot of fun!” - pupil
•  "The intergenerational sports day was lovely. I met so many different people and it was so nice seeing the children mixing with the older generation. The older generation were so nice and talkative. It was different, I've experienced nothing like it before. It was very fun. There should be more of these funded by the government as it helps physical and mental health for all generations. It would be nice to see it on a larger scale" - Bangor University health and care course student.