Rebecca Evans AM, Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales, has taken a key step towards helping end the stigma surrounding dementia by pledging to become one of Wales’ first Dementia Friends.
Mrs Evans joined actress Ruth Jones MBE as a guest speaker for the launch of Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay.
Dementia Friends aims to give people in Wales a better understanding of dementia and the small things that they can do that could make a difference to people living with the condition. From helping someone to find the right bus to spreading the word about dementia on social media, every action counts.
Thanks to funding from Welsh Government, Alzheimer’s Society is running a year-long pilot of their Dementia Friends programme in Wales. The trailblazing initiative aims to improve people’s understanding of dementia and its effects.
The charity hopes four thousand people in Wales will become Dementia Friends Wales by 2015. The move comes in a bid to make the country more dementia-friendly and improve the lives of the 45,500 people currently living with the condition.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Evans said: “We know that one in three people over 65 will develop with dementia – and that over the next six years the number of people in Wales with dementia will rise by an average of 30% – and by as much as 44% in some rural areas, which is of particular concern to me as someone who represents a largely rural area and knows the extra challenges that presents in terms of transport and ease of access to services.
“Two-thirds of people with dementia live at home in the community – but less than half of people with dementia say that they feel part of their local community. We have to do something about that because social isolation and loneliness can have a devastating impact on people’s lives.
“That’s why I think the work that is being done by the Welsh Government working in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society to create dementia-supportive communities in Wales is so important. The aim is to challenge stigma and support people with the condition to continue living independently in their community for as long as possible, in communities where they are understood, respected, supported, and where they are confident they can contribute to community life. We know that with access to appropriate information, support, and care, it is possible to live well with dementia.
“But building dementia friendly communities begins with building dementia friendly people – and that’s where the Dementia Friends scheme comes in. I’ve signed up to show my support for Dementia Friends, and am encouraging people in Mid and West Wales to do the same too.”
Sue Phelps, Director of Alzheimer’s Society in Wales said: “Most people don’t know enough about dementia. Dementia Friends is the perfect opportunity to be able to invite everyone to improve their knowledge. We are pleased to have been able to engage twenty-two AMs in one day. They have a huge influence in their local communities and we hope they will use this opportunity to take action and improve lives.”
If you are interested in becoming a Dementia Friend or helping create more communities that are dementia-supportive, go to dementiafriends.org.uk/wales to find your nearest information session or to volunteer as a Dementia Friends Champion.
