COULD you be a dementia friend and support someone with the illness?
A charity is calling on more people in Dorset to help as figures show thousands of people with dementia are at risk of isolation this Christmas.
Lack of understanding has caused more than 70 percent of people with dementia to be ‘left out’ over the festive season, the Alzheimer’s Society says.
A study has found half of people caring for someone with dementia think Christmas is an isolating time and almost two thirds of people living with the condition do not get as many social invites after their diagnosis.
The Alzheimer’s Society and Public Health England (PHE) are calling on people to join the half a million individuals and more than 30 businesses who are already helping to make this Christmas dementia-friendly by becoming Dementia Friends.
A Dementia Friend is someone who has learnt a bit more about what it is like to have dementia, and the small ways they can support someone with the condition.
A new guide, published by the Alzheimer’s Society and PHE, contains tips on how best to support people with dementia at Christmas – both at home and in the community.
From singing traditional songs to having a quiet room set aside at a party, there are many ways to include people living with dementia at Christmas time.
Professor Kevin Fenton, Director of Health and Wellbeing at PHE said: “Despite being commonly thought of as the most wonderful time of the year, in the excitement of Christmas communities and individuals often don’t know how best to include people with dementia.
“It is encouraging, however, to see the growing support for those living with the condition, through the fact that there are now more than half a million Dementia Friends, and more than 30 supporting organisations.
“Through little actions such as having more patience and not leaving out those affected by the condition, Dementia Friends can make a huge difference to the lives of people with dementia, at Christmas time and throughout the whole year.”
- By 2015, there will be 850,000 people with dementia in the UK. Anyone can become a Dementia Friend by watching a short video or attending a face-to-face session.
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