MOVING stories of how families in the district have coped with dementia during the pandemic have been shared in a new short film. Commissioned by Dementia Friendly Keighley and Bradford2025 MAKE:FILM, the film hears from a number of people who were separated from loved ones with Alzheimer’s and dementia in care homes. For Keighley filmmaker Scott Coulthard it was a subject close to his heart, as he learns how to cope with his grandmother’s memory loss. He said: “The interviews were really emotional. “I heard about the difficulties of dementia not just for the person, but for the people around them. I also learned about the amount of help and support and groups there are and that carers are so much more than just workers, they have to be family.”
The facility at Herncliffe was launched in conjunction with Dementia Friendly Keighley. Support was provided through the Dementia Inequalities Partnership, funded by West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership. Resident Helen Harper was the first to use the facility. Her niece, Alison Polydor, said: “We really enjoyed talking to Auntie Helen and appreciate Dementia Friendly Keighley’s approach to finding a solution to the heartbreaking situation of not seeing loved ones for months. It was lovely to actually see Auntie Helen.” Herncliffe manager, Mary Harrison, said the resource was “much needed”. She added: “This contact is so important. I am very proud of our staff for supporting the idea and thank the Dementia Inequalities Partnership for the funding.”