Nick Clegg backs Alzheimer's Society campaign to make England more dementia friendly

Nick Clegg has shown his support for a campaign led by the Alzheimer’s Society by becoming a Dementia Friend.

Yesterday the Deputy Prime Minister attended an information session led by the charity’s chief executive Jeremy Hughes, who explained that the aim of the initiative is to improve the public’s understanding of the condition and to make England more dementia friendly.

Dementia Friends, funded by the Department of Health and the Cabinet Office, was launched in February as part of the Prime Minister’s Dementia Challenge, which was launched last year to tackle the condition and the issues it poses for those who are diagnosed with it.

So far, more than 10,000 people have signed up to the campaign and the charity hopes to create a network of a million Dementia Friends by the end of 2015.

Pledging his support to the campaign yesterday, Mr Clegg said: “With over three quarters of a million people living with dementia in England today we can’t turn our backs on the disease of those who need our care and support, that’s why I’m a Dementia Friend and think it’s vital to understand the condition that affects so many families up and down the country. This initiative gives people the opportunity to do their bit to help improve lives – I’d like to encourage everyone across England to become a Dementia Friend.

“Dementia is not a natural part of ageing, it is a condition caused by diseases of the brain. What we need to remember is that there is more to the person than the condition they are living with. With support and understanding from the public, people with dementia can live well. We need to raise awareness of dementia and build genuinely dementia friendly communities.”

In addition to Dementia Friends, the charity is looking to recruit Dementia Friends Champions to deliver information sessions to people in their local communities and play a key role in changing public perceptions of people with the condition.

Following his meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Hughes, who is also a Dementia Friends Champion, said: “Less than half of us think we know enough about dementia. By becoming a Dementia Friends Champion, you can be part of a growing network of people helping to improve public understanding and create dementia friendly communities across England. It isn’t about creating experts; it’s about helping people understand a little bit more about what it’s like to live with the condition and then turn that understanding into action. I’d urge anyone who thinks they might be interested to visit the website and find out more.”

To find out more about the campaign or how to become a Dementia Friend or Dementia Friends Champion, visit www.dementiafriends.org.uk.