Glyn Davies, Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire, is supporting a campaign by the Alzheimer’s Society to increase the number of ‘Dementia Friends’.
Glyn Davies joined other MPs and Peers from across the country for a Dementia Friends session, held in the House of Commons on Tuesday 14th January. The Dementia Friends initiative was launched in February 2013 by Alzheimer’s Society, and 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 & Wales more dementia-friendly and improve the lives of the 650,000 people currently living with the condition in the country.
Glyn was one of 30 MPs and Peers who took part in a number of exercises aimed at helping participants understand the affect of dementia on people’s everyday lives.
Speaking about the Dementia Friends session, Glyn Davies MP said:
“As we all live longer, the number of people living with dementia is growing rapidly. Dementia is a very difficult disease to understand which makes it more important than ever that we all have better knowledge and awareness of what it’s like to live with dementia.
“Most people don’t know enough about dementia; the Dementia Friends initiative is a great opportunity for us to be able to invite everyone to improve their knowledge. The Alzheimer’s Society will be launching its Dementia Friends initiative in Wales next month.
“It’s often the little things that make a difference – from helping someone find the right bus to spreading the word about dementia. If we were all trained to be a Dementia Friend it would help make our local community a better place. I would encourage everyone in Montgomeryshire to consider becoming a Dementia Friend.”
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.
