It was a pleasure to support the excellent Older Persons Fair held at the Corn Exchange in Witney to coincide with Dementia Action Week. Dementia is something that has touched a great many families – including my own – and it is estimated that close to 10,000 people in Oxfordshire are living with dementia.
We have made great strides in recent years to raise awareness of dementia and tackle the stigma that surrounds it. But there is still a great deal more we need to do, particularly around ensuring early diagnosis and developing research into treatment and prevention.
In 2010 just 2 in 5 people living with dementia could expect to receive a diagnosis for dementia in their lifetimes. Receiving a timely dementia diagnosis is vital, as it enables an individual and their loved ones to consider the care and support they need. It means someone living with dementia can access the support they need and receive treatment more quickly.
Welcome steps have been taken to improve diagnosis rates, such as incorporating dementia risk reduction into the NHS Health Check, but further work is required in this area.
While we look to our medical and scientific experts – of which we are fortunate to boast the best in the world – to develop their research into dementia diagnosis and treatment, it is important that we all remember that we have a part to play too.
A few years ago, I trained to become a Dementia Friends Ambassador, qualifying me to train new Dementia Friends. Becoming a Dementia Friend is a simple yet profoundly valuable step which we can all take to support those living with dementia. Dementia Friends training involves learning more about how dementia impacts people, and the small actions we can take to support those living with dementia. This could involve spending time with someone living with dementia, being more patient when out in the community, or volunteering for an organisation that helps people with dementia.
I was proud to host a session at the well-attended Older Persons Fair in Witney, training many more Dementia Friends and building on my campaign to make West Oxfordshire a more dementia-friendly community. It is encouraging that so many in our community are playing their part to support those living with dementia, ensuring as many people as possible with the condition can still live enjoyable and fulfilling lives.
