WITH THE number of people being diagnosed with dementia on the rise, sufferers and their families are being reminded they need not face the condition alone.
That message is being promoted by NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove as part of the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Awareness Week which began on Sunday (May 15) and runs until today (Friday).
The aim of the week is to make dementia less scary and encourage people to talk to someone if they are worried that they or someone close to them may have dementia.
It is estimated there are 850,000 people in the UK with dementia and more than 8,500 in Worcestershire who have been diagnosed with it – that figure is set to rise to over 10,000 by 2020.
NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG is encouraging people in Worcestershire to become a ‘dementia friend’.
Anyone can take up the role by watching a short video online or by attending a face-to-face information session to increase their understanding of the condition.
Dr Richard Davies, the interim chair and clinical lead for NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG, said: “As you get older the risk of developing dementia increases, and it’s estimated that one in three people over the age of 65 will develop the condition, an incredibly high statistic.”
He added people with dementia could live well and if diagnosed early there were ways to slow it down and maintain mental function.
“It’s important that people don’t face the condition alone, there are organisations like Alzheimer’s Society out there that can help.”
There are currently more than 10,000 dementia friends in Worcestershire who are helping to create a dementia-friendly society.
For more on becoming a Dementia Friend, visit www.dementiafriends.org.uk and anyone wanting to talk through their concerns about dementia can speak with the Alzheimer’s Society by calling 0300 222 1122.
