Our MP Phil Wilson has promised to take action to support people living with dementia. He joined 200 other MPs and representatives from Alzheimer’s Society in Portcullis House, Westminster to provide a handwritten statement of action they will take to support people with dementia and their carers.
Phil pledged to raise awareness of dementia in County Durham, highlighting the increasing number of people living with the condition in the area:
‘We have to raise awareness of dementia because as we live longer there will be more and more people with dementia living in our communities – but many of them do not even have a diagnosis.
‘‘The number of people living with dementia in County Durham is expected to rise to 6,817 by 2014, with 48.5% of those cases undiagnosed.’
The Labour MP acknowledged the need for a response from the whole community:
‘Dementia can be an incredibly isolating disease for people with dementia, their families and their carers,’ he added.
‘That is why local people should go and show their support and that is why the people within our communities rise to the challenge of making them feel part of everyday activities.’
‘I want people with dementia within my community to know that I am there for them. There is a tremendous community spirit within the North East but it is vitally important that we try to do more for people with dementia so they can lead the lives that they want to lead within our communities.
‘We have to do whatever we can to bring dementia out into the open and increase our understanding of the disease. Then we will be in a better position to be able to help people with dementia and their carers.
Alzheimer’s Society campaigners were in Westminster to raise political support for their newly developed Dementia Friends initiative.
Launched in February this year, Dementia Friends aims to help people understand what it might be like to live with dementia and turn that understanding into action.
Alzheimer’s Society is aiming to have one million Dementia Friends by 2015, to help make England more dementia-friendly and improve the lives of the 650,000 people currently living with the condition.
During the afternoon, 30 MPs from across England took part in a Dementia Friends session.
If you are interested in becoming a Dementia Friend or helping create more communities that are dementia friendly, go to dementiafriends.org.uk to find your nearest information session or to volunteer as a Dementia Friends Champion.
