Dementia friends campaign can make a real difference
NHS England today welcomes the launch of the campaign by Public Health England and the Alzheimer’s Society aimed at encouraging people to sign up as Dementia Friends.
The campaign aims to recruit one million friends by 2015 through educating people and raising awareness about dementia and the things that can make a difference to someone with the condition.
People can become a Dementia Friend for free by either watching a short on-line video or attending a 45 minute face-to-face briefing by a Dementia Friends Champion.
By registering online to become a Dementia Friend, people will receive a Dementia Friends badge and a ‘little book of friendship’ – which is a free 60 page booklet detailing ideas and tips on how to help someone living with dementia.
Professor Alistair Burns, National Clinical Director for Dementia for NHS England, said: “NHS England welcomes this incredibly valuable campaign which will raise the awareness of dementia across the country.
“I would strongly encourage people to sign up to become a dementia friend and encourage their friends and family to sign up too. Most of us know, or know of someone with dementia and becoming a dementia friend is a positive sign of support.”
11 comments
I currently live in as a carer for a Dementia client. I love my job. My background is in Social Work but I never received the awareness I now have from any academic course…….it is organizations that do what you do that really educates. .I want to be a friend to al people of dementia .
Thank you
I manage a home for the elderly and one of my residents is interested in being a dementia friend.
I have 3 friends suffering from lapses in memory. They have not been medically diagnosed but I spend a lot of time with them and knowing more about dementia would help me to understand what they are going through.
I work as a care assistant with dementia care and would love to be a dementia friend.
I love helping and if I can make someone smile and help in anyway that I can then I know I’m doing something worthwhile I have time on my hands and I love working with people also my nan had dementia
I’m a mother of two grown up daughters, I’m a stop at home mum and now feel I have time to help others.
My mother suffers from Dementia, I’ve just seen the advert on TV and the first thing I’ve done is sign up to support, this is a great campaign to imform the public.
Hi my name is Annmarie I’ve worked in care all my adult life and I find dementia very interesting
I am a health care worker working with dementia residents in a nursing home in Hove East Sussex , I would like to become a dementia friend. This is a great campaign to inform the public about dementia would love to be a part of it.
My father had dementia do I am very interested in becoming a friend of your society
I am a mental health nurse working with many dementia patients I would like to become a dementia friend. I live in the Scottish borders and have just seen the advert on tv, hope this includes us living in Scotland.