Dementia Action Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness, run by the Alzheimer’s Society.
Dementia is a group of symptoms that are caused by different diseases that damage the brain.
The symptoms get worse over time and include memory loss, confusion and needing help with daily tasks, problems with language and understanding, and changes in behaviour.
These changes may be small to start with, but they will become more noticeable. For example, they can begin to cause problems with familiar tasks, such as using a phone or public transport.
Younger people can also have dementia, with around one in 20 people with dementia less than 65 years old, so it’s important that people of any age seek help if they are struggling.
There is no cure for the diseases causing dementia yet, but there is lots of support that can help you live as well as possible. Going through the diagnosis process should let you know what type of dementia you have. As well as helping you plan for the future (such as setting up power of attorney) and access therapies and support groups, this may also mean you get access to medicines that can help you manage your symptoms.
Cllr Robert Rigby, Portfolio Holder for Adult Services said; “Please do learn more about dementia. It is an issue which will affect so many of us, and knowing what it is and what support is available can make a huge difference.”
For more information on dementia, including how to distinguish between changes that are likely to be part of getting older and those that could be signs of dementia, visit www.alzheimers.org.uk
And you can call for help and advice from the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Connect support line on 0333 150 3456.