Our new Patron: Lori Hayden

Arts for Dementia are delighted to announce Lori Hayden as our newest Patron. Lori has been involved with Arts for Dementia since 2014 when her husband John was diagnosed with PCA dementia.  She and John took part in a variety of Arts for Dementia programmes, and from 2016-2020 Lori was a Trustee.  Lori has been advising and supporting the staff team since 2023, particularly during the rebrand and new website project, bringing her expertise from her professional background in corporate identity and brand development.

Lori says: “I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed as a Patron of Arts for Dementia. It has been ten years since l started on the journey of Alzheimer’s after my husband was diagnosed in 2014. Sadly, John passed away in 2018. But through our participation in their programmes and my work with Arts for Dementia, l have been given the strength and honour to continue to work with people with dementia and their loved ones. It is not just the person who is diagnosed whose life is irrevocably altered, it is their family and friends who are deeply affected also. It is my privilege to be able to help make a difference and to see what joy and solace an art programme can create for those on the journey with dementia.”

Penny Fosten, CEO of Arts for Dementia, says: “We are thrilled that Lori has joined us as Patron. She has been a huge support for me and the team for over a year, working informally, and we’re now delighted to recognise her importance to us more formally. Lori’s personal experience with her husband John, her knowledge of us from when she was a Trustee and more recently a volunteer supporting programmes, means she has a deep understanding of dementia, the benefits of the arts, and the difference our work can make. I am very much looking forward to working with Lori to continue to develop and grow our work and reach.“