Dementia Action Week
Dementia Action Week is a national event that sees the UK public taking action to improve the lives of people affected by Dementia.
The word ‘dementia’ describes a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem solving or language.
Different types of dementia can affect people differently, and everyone will experience symptoms in their own way.
However, there are some common early symptoms that may appear some time before a diagnosis of dementia. These include:
- Memory loss
- Difficulty concentrating
- Finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks such as getting confused over the correct change when shopping
- Struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
- Being confused about time and place
- Mood changes
These symptoms are often mild and may get worse only very gradually.
Dementia is not a natural part of ageing. This is why it’s important to talk to a GP sooner rather than later if you’re worried about memory problems or other symptoms.
You can find more information at:
Let’s talk about dementia
Dementia Action Week, previously known as Dementia Awareness Week, takes place this week.
The aim of the week is to encourage people to take action to improve the lives of those affected by Dementia, working to create a dementia-friendly UK.
There are 850,000 people in the UK who are affected by dementia, and it doesn’t just affect the elderly, 40,000 people are under the age of 65. It is believed that by 2051 the number of people who have dementia in the UK will have risen to 2 million.
There are a number of ways you can take action, both big and small to help make everyday life for those with dementia better.
Visit www.alzheimers.org.uk to find out how to become a dementia friend or to discover what’s going on in your area and how you can get involved.
