Increasing Dementia Awareness

Increasing Dementia Awareness in South Cheshire

In the UK, it is estimated that around 850,000 people live with Dementia, which is likely to rise to 106 million by 2040. Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, national charity Alzheimer's Society saw a 4.1% decrease in dementia diagnosis rates between February 2020 and June 2020. This suggests that there are thousands of people in the UK living with dementia without a diagnosis.

During Dementia Action Week, Right at Home South Cheshire took part in Denim for Dementia. Dementia Action Week is a national event run by Alzheimer's Society, whose vision is a world without dementia. Alzheimer's Society campaigns increase awareness of dementia and improve the lives of those living with dementia and also funds research to find a cure. It is therefore a charity that is very close to our hearts, here at Right at Home South Cheshire.

Three common myths of dementia are listed below:

Myth 1: Dementia is a disease

Dementia is caused by different diseases that affect the brain and Alzheimer's disease is the most common of these. The terms 'dementia' and 'Alzheimer's' are often used interchangeably but dementia is not a disease in its own right. There are lots of different types of dementia. Another common type is vascular dementia, which is caused by problems with bloody supply to the brain.

Myth 2: Dementia only affects memory loss

Different types of dementia cause damage to different parts of the brain. Whilst dementia often begins with short-term memory loss, dementia is actually the umbrella name for a group of symptoms. These symptoms commonly include problems with memory, thinking, problem solving, language and perception.

Myth 3: After a dementia diagnosis, the only option is to move into a care home

If your loved one is diagnosed with dementia, with the right care and support they can continue living in the comfort of their own home. In-home dementia care from a trained and trusted CareGiver can help alleviate the progression of symptoms. In addition, a regular routine and familiar home surroundings can reduce feelings of stress amongst people living with dementia. Live-in care is also an option for those requiring 24-hour dementia care at home. Live-in care is where a CareGiver takes up residence in a Client’s home. This provides Clients and their families, reassurance that someone else is in the house. A CareGiver can also identify any potential issues and ensure the home environment remains safe.

Dementia Support at Right at Home

If you're based in South Cheshire and require support caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease, or another type of dementia, contact our local office team for information on how we can help. You can also read more about dementia homecare on our Alzheimer's and Dementia service page. 

Here in South Cheshire, Right at Home have been raising awareness and fundraising for Alzheimer's Society since 2016. Our Managing Director Ben Selby is a Dementia Friends Champion. Dementia Friends is an Alzheimer's Society initiative created to change people's perceptions of dementia. It aims to transform the way the nation thinks, acts and talks about dementia.

Have you ever wondered what Dementia is or how it affects a person? As a company, we’ve created over 500 Dementia Friends over the last 4 years through short information sessions delivered by a member of our team. You can view one of these sessions via the link below, recorded by our MD, Ben and in only 25 mins you’ll understand a lot more about Dementia. If you would like to book in a session for yourself or for your business, please contact our MD on ben.selby@rightathome.co.uk.