Home Instead's 2023 Community Talks season has been hailed a success after more than 40 free workshops were held in the Exeter and East Devon area.

The company, which provides care for people in their own homes, delivered workshops on 'later life' topics including 'scams awareness', 'avoiding falls and hospitalisations', 'staying nourished', 'choosing the right care' and 'dementia awareness'. These were held at assisted living facilities, residential homes and healthcare settings, and were presented to community organisations and voluntary groups, carers groups, support providers and businesses.

Home Instead believes these events help East Devon residents to meet the needs of family members, clients and the wider community.

There were two dedicated 'dementia awareness for business' workshops in Sidmouth and Lyme Regis, which welcomed attendees from the legal and financial sectors, the construction industry, residential care settings, leisure and hospitality organisations and many more.

Marketing manager Sharon Coombes said: “Being a dementia aware business enables the entire community to access services, and to feel confident that they will be treated considerately, and with empathy when they do. It’s a win-win situation whereby options are opened for both parties of service user and service provider.

“With regard to dementia, creating an ‘aware’ community also benefits our own clients and Care Professionals, widening the scope for interesting, welcoming and safe places for them to visit, together.

"Our ‘Out Instead’ project is proof of this, and includes a variety of accessible local organisations which we then feature on our website and in our popular e-Newsletter. In many cases, the organisations themselves also go on to became ‘dementia aware’ as part of the project.”

Home Instead said it had seen a noticeable rise in interest in all its talks and workshops, and is planning to hold them again in 2024. Anyone who would like to have one at their own group, community organisation or business can contact the company directly to arrange it. The talks are free, last between 60 and 90 minutes, and can be adapted to suit the audience.

Also set to be repeated in 2024 was the Home Instead Ageing-Well Information Day which took place in Budleigh Salterton in late October 2023. More than 30 support, advisory and leisure service providers were represented, including local and national organisations, and it attracted more than 300 visitors.

For more information on Community Talks, contact the Home Instead Community Engagement Team on 01395 200600 or visit their Facebook page @hiexetereastdevon for advice and information.