“I want to end the stigma that still exists for people and families living with dementia,” says Gina, who began studying Dementia Care during her Health and Social Care degree with The Open University.

During her studies, Gina created the Exeter Dementia Action Alliance (EDAA), a foundation governed by the Charities Trust which is dedicated to raising awareness of dementia and making Exeter a dementia-friendly city. In 2020, the Alliance will celebrate five years since it launched.

Gina has trekked the Great Wall of China to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK, was named Dementia Champion of the Year 2016 by the Alzheimer’s Society at the Dementia Friendly Awards and recently received a British Empire Medal for her voluntary services for people with Dementia in Devon.

“My OU studies have been pivotal in my dementia work,” Gina tells us. “It’s been nothing more than transformational, leading me down a path I would never have imagined.”

‘The biggest health care challenge of this century’

Since qualifying in 2017, Gina hasn’t lost any steam in her dementia awareness mission.

“Dementia may touch all of us in one way or another in the future, and I feel that people everywhere – including those in government – are taking heed of what is the biggest health and social care challenge of this century.”

Gina is a volunteer Dementia Friends Champion for the Alzheimer’s Society and has delivered over 125 awareness sessions reaching nearly 1,900 people, including those around the world.

“I’m just back from a group trip in Vietnam and delivered a Dementia Friends session to 10 of my fellow travellers. There were five different nationalities and it took place in quite a unique setting – a sleeper train!”

‘Small changes can make a big difference’

Gina believes that having more knowledge of dementia can help communities to respond in supportive and transformative ways. As well as continuing to collaborate with care homes and local businesses, Gina is working with local schools to increase dementia awareness from an early age.

“There is an increasing number of people living with dementia in the UK, many without a diagnosis. If we can help to empower and educate people early on, our communities will be more understanding and compassionate. That’s why it’s one of my priorities over the next year to work with more children and young people to help them become dementia aware.”

There are plenty of other projects in the pipeline that will keep Gina and her colleagues busy. In 2020, they hope to begin implementing changes that could make Exeter more dementia-friendly.

“We want people living with dementia and their care partners to live as well as they can in the city. We will be setting up a city audit to ascertain people’s specific needs and then approaching local businesses and restaurants to see how they could support us in making things better. Even making small changes will in turn make substantial differences for those living with dementia.”

“There is still a lack of understanding, which means that even something as simple as eating out can be a challenge for those with dementia. We hope to work with local eateries to make a difference, so that those with dementia and their care partners don’t have to miss out on those everyday simple joys.”