Support needed for hundreds of thousands of people living with dementia this Christmas

People living with dementia are at significant risk of being isolated during the festive period according to new research carried out by Alzheimer’s Society.

New figures released reveal that a lack of understanding about the condition has led to those with dementia being excluded during what should be a joyful time of year.

Alzheimer’s Society and Public Health England (PHE) are therefore calling on people to join 500,000 individuals and more than 30 businesses who are already helping to make this Christmas a dementia friendly one by becoming Dementia Friends.

Jeremy Hughes, chief executive at Alzheimer’s Society said: “Christmas is usually a time when families, friends and communities get together but people affected by dementia can struggle to take part or get left out altogether. It can be particularly painful when invitations to social events dry up because friends and neighbours fear dementia and don’t know how to act.

”The more people understand about dementia and become Dementia Friends, the more we can reduce the stigma and enable people living with the condition to feel more confident about taking part in their local community.”

The research found that nearly two thirds of people with dementia have found that Christmas invitations have dried up since their diagnosis, and nearly half of them felt that people didn’t have time to include those living with dementia. Almost half admit that their biggest worry is how family and friends will react to unusual behaviour.

From the perspective of those caring for someone with dementia, the research found that nearly half believe Christmas is an isolating time for people with the condition and just over 70 per cent feel that a lack of understanding is causing people with dementia to be excluded at Christmas.

Other findings included the fact that nearly 80 per cent of people with dementia name shopping as their favourite activity, yet 63 per cent of those polled do not believe that shops are doing enough to help people with dementia.

Retailers are encouraging their employees to become Dementia Friends, and providing guidance on supporting customers with dementia, including paying for goods and talking on the phone.

High street names that have signed up include Argos, Barclays, Homebase, Lloyds Banking Group, Santander and M&S. Many retail staff who are Dementia Friends will be on hand to support customers affected by the condition when doing their Christmas shopping this year.

A new guide published by Alzheimer’s Society and PHE, contains tips on how best to support people with dementia at Christmas – both at home and in the community. From singing traditional songs to having a quiet room set aside at a party, there are many ways to include people living with dementia at Christmas time. To download a copy of the guide, visit http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/christmasguide.

By 2015, there will be 850,000 people with dementia in the UK. Dementia Friends was launched to tackle the stigma and lack of understanding that means many people with the condition experience loneliness and social exclusion. Anyone can become a Dementia Friend by watching a short online video or attending a face-to-face session. To find out more visit www.dementiafriends.org.uk