Why I welcome the Dementia Friends Campaign
Public Health England and the Alzheimer’s Society have launched a campaign aimed at signing up a million people as Dementia Friends by 2015.
Here are some dementia statistics which show why we should all support the campaign:
- An estimated twenty-one million people in England have a close friend or family member with dementia.
- One in three people over 65 will develop dementia.
- There are 550,000 carers of people with dementia in England.
- Two thirds of people with dementia live in the community while one third live in a care home.
To become a Dementia Friend you learn more about the illness and the things that can make a big difference to people with dementia.
It’s easy and free to become a Dementia Friend – just visit www.dementiafriends.org.uk and watch the short online video.
By registering online to become a Dementia Friend, you will receive a Dementia Friends badge and a ‘little book of friendship’, a free 60 page booklet with ideas and tips on how to help someone living with dementia.
I am a Dementia Champion and have given dementia awareness sessions to about 1500 people. By becoming a Dementia Friend you show a real commitment to understand and support individuals with dementia. Please sign up.