The Department of Health, together with the Alzheimer’s Society has launched a new campaign aimed at helping to assist the early diagnosis of dementia.
Launched last week to coincide with World Alzheimer’s Day (September 21), the three-month national campaign, A Day to Remember, aims to raise awareness of the condition, provide advice for recognising symptoms and encourage discussion about the condition.
This latest push is part of a broader government initiative, which aims to improve the public’s understanding of the condition and raise the standard of dementia care. The prime minister’s £3.2m Challenge on Dementia campaign began in March this year with the intention of increasing investment in dementia research and care.
Speaking of the initiative, David Cameron said: “Dementia is a devastating disease that puts enormous strain on people and their families.
“Shockingly, nearly 400,000 people are unaware that they have the condition and so we want to make sure more people know what dementia is and how to spot those tell-tale signs.
“With the number of sufferers set to rise in the years ahead, I am determined that we go much further and faster on dementia.
“That’s why I launched a Challenge on Dementia in March, doubling the research budget and working across society to improve health and care, and supporting people to live well with the condition.”
Sir Michael Parkinson, Fiona Phillips and former England goalkeeper Gordon Banks have lent their support to the campaign, by sharing their personal experiences of dementia in a short film on the NHS website.