A million dementia friends lead the way that society must follow
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Version 0 of 1. The reaction to Observer contributor Nicci Gerrard’s campaign for dignity for people with dementia in hospitals has truly been phenomenal. Letters have been written, stories have been shared and MPs have been met. It goes to show the extent to which dementia touches the lives of millions. It’s also finally being talked about openly, no longer in fearful whispers behind closed doors. I was deeply moved by Nicci’s account of her father’s rapid decline after a prolonged stay in hospital. My father had dementia and found hospitals particularly disorientating. I met her to pledge our support. It is important to remember that while families and carers should absolutely have the right to accompany people with dementia in hospital, they should complement rather than replace high-quality care from professionals who understand the individual needs of people with dementia. We should expect nothing less than all staff in hospitals, from porters to clinicians, to be well trained in dementia. I know Nicci agrees with me on this. By the end of the next parliament there will be a million people in the UK living with dementia. Alzheimer’s Society and campaigns such as Nicci’s have rightly propelled dementia into the spotlight. The government has focused on dementia, but we still have a way to go if everyone is to get the care and support they have a right to. It is clear that if we are to truly tackle dementia head on, it requires a response from the whole of society We want everyone diagnosed with dementia to have access to a dementia adviser, a non-clinical professional who will help them come to terms with their disease and guide them through the complex health and social care system. We must also see much more research into care, prevention and cure. That’s why we’ve set up eight doctoral training centres and committed at least £100m for research over the next decade. Government is only part of the solution. This weekend Alzheimer’s Society is announcing that we have created one million dementia friends – people with an improved understanding who have committed to social action. This initiative, born from the experiences of people with dementia, who all too frequently lose friends and experience loneliness, really is transforming the way the nation thinks, talks and acts about the condition. As dementia friends pass the one million mark, it becomes one of the biggest ever social movements on any disease. The response from businesses has been fantastic. Marks & Spencer, Asda, Santander, Lloyds Pharmacy, easyJet, Argos, Homebase and Lloyds Banking Group, alongside many more large and small companies, have encouraged their staff to become dementia friends. They join schools, the police, the fire service and transport providers in a concerted effort to build a dementia-friendly society and support people with the condition to take part in their local community. Villages, towns and cities across the country are committing to become dementia friendly. Speaking to Gary Whiting, who was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2012 aged just 61, you get a real sense of the importance of grassroots community-led initiatives such as dementia friends. Gary’s dementia means he has lost all concept of time and struggles in big crowds. His diagnosis came as a shock. He, like many others, didn’t realise that people in their early 60s could develop dementia. Determined to stay independent, Gary says that he’s noticed a marked improvement in dementia awareness in recent years, with people realising that dementia doesn’t just affect your memory. The kind and patient staff he has encountered in shops has really bolstered his confidence when out. It is clear that if we are to truly tackle dementia head on, it requires a response from the whole of society. The government, the NHS, social services, businesses and volunteers up and down the country all have a vital role to play. Working together we can ensure that people with dementia and their carers are offered the support to live a fulfilling life, rather than merely existing. 2015 is set to be an important year for politics – let’s also make it an historic year for people with dementia. Jeremy Hughes is the chief executive of Alzheimer’s Society |