Public Health England along with Dementia Friends have launched a campaign to help raise awareness of dementia, a disease which affects 665,000 people in England and Wales.
The campaign will be targeting ethnic minorities, particularly African Caribbeans, who are said to be at risk of the disease. Currently, 25,000 ethnic minorities suffer from the disease and it is thought that this figure will double by 2026 as the ethnic minorities communities in the UK continue to age.
The chief executive of Alzheimer’s Society Jeremy Hughes stated: “Research suggests dementia is on the rise within African Caribbean communities yet cultural factors relating to language, increased stigma and close-knit family bonds can make it harder for them to access information and advice. Through Dementia Friends people within African Caribbean communities can understand a bit more about what it is like to live with dementia and the small things that help those with the condition. It is easy and free to become a Dementia Friend, so I urge you to all sign up and make a difference.”
It is thought that African Caribbeans are more at risk of developing dementia, a result of the community’s susceptibility to other diseases such as stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease which are all risk factors of dementia.
The campaign hopes to enable people to have a better understanding of dementia and what it is like to live with the disease. African Caribbean communities have in the past had a tendency to not only ignore dementia but also to stigmatise it. Award winning Dementia Voice nurse Morejoy Saineti said: “It is so important to get African and Caribbean communities talking about dementia and learning from each other. This is a disease that will not go away and we have to start taking the stigma out of it. Dementia Friends is a great initiative that can help our family, friends and communities to become more aware of dementia and understand how to help people with the condition.”
Dementia is a disease that has over 100 forms, and unlike many people believe is not simply a ‘natural part of getting old.’ The common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s which usually affects people over 65.
“The initiative forms part of the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia, and builds on commitments declared at the 2013 G8 Dementia Summit, which included a call to improve the quality of life for people living with the disease.”
