Dementia Awareness
July 2010

The Kingston Dementia Board held an information event on 28th June. The event provided information about the National Dementia Strategy, some fact and figures about dementia and what support is available locally. Dementia affects over 700,000 people nationally and in Kingston, in 2007 the count was 1,417. This number is estimated to rise by 11.22% to 1,594 by 2021. Of course these are the numbers given for people who are diagnosed with Dementia but the actual number including those suffering without a diagnosis will be considerably higher.

The National Dementia Strategy highlights three areas for action: to raise awareness of dementia; access to an early diagnosis and to provide support for dementia patients and their families.  The Alzheimer’s Society is a national charity leading the fight against dementia. They are working with the NHS and social care services to provide information and support for people with all forms of dementia and those who care for them. They have produced a guide to help reduce the risk of developing dementia, looking at healthy eating and keeping active and exercising the mind. By making small changes we can reduce the overall risk of dementia as we get older. The Alzheimer’s Society provides a Dementia Advisor Service at Tolworth Hospital as an information and signposting service for people with dementia living in Kingston.

GPs can offer a range of support, including:

•  General advice on ways to prevent illness and keeping people fit and well
•  Medical advice and treatment
• Referrals to specialist help and other services

Dementia cannot be cured but there is help available if people have an early diagnosis. There is a false belief that dementia is a normal part of aging and nothing can be done, sadly the stigma associated with dementia, like other mental health conditions can prevent people seeking the help they need.

Other local support services include the Dementia Carers’ Café, run by carers for carers, Wednesdays 6-8pm at Amy Woodgate Centre Chessington; Age Concern’s Saturday Club at Raleigh House, for people living with dementia and their families/carers. The Admiral Nurse Service, Kingston Community Care Services and Kingston Carers’ Network also provides a range of services for carers.

For further information about any of the above contact Maria Tunmer at KVA or Charlie Knell at NHS Kingston 020 8339 8061.