Alzheimer's Society

It's not long now until we'll know the make up of the next government. With dementia costing £42bn a year it is a challenge they cannot afford to ignore. As I've written in this article, Alzheimer's Society also sees an opportunity. An opportunity to help mend our broken health and social care system and to create a fairer system for people living with dementia. I'd love to know your thoughts, and feel free to share it with your networks. https://lnkd.in/ePDbpg8C

💬 'There is no doubt that early diagnosis is absolutely crucial in the fight against dementia, and campaigning is key to increasing awareness of what is the number one cause of death in the UK.' Ahead of the general election, our friend Christine highlights why an ambitious increase in early and accurate diagnosis rates is top of our agenda for the next government. Chris' husband, Bob, struggled to get a diagnosis. Chris hopes that decision-makers can learn from experiences like her and Bob's to help more people in the future. 'My husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and mixed dementia with behavioural issues in 2022. He is now living in a nursing home that takes very good care of him following two failed placements elsewhere, resulting in readmissions to hospital. 'The dementia has resulted in him changing from a very fit and active man to him losing most of his mobility and having to rely on others for the vast majority of his care needs. Dementia is, of course, progressive, and unfortunately, he was unable to have any early diagnosis or treatment to slow down this progression. 'The reality is that dementia is a life-changing and life-limiting, devastating disease that most people know very little about.' 'I am passionate about doing all I can to help those with dementia. I've attended parliamentary sessions to speak to MPs directly, tell them my story, and ask them to use their influence and powers to raise awareness and support early diagnosis and new treatments. 'I also drew their attention to the economic argument that the cost of these will be offset by the savings made in the funding of care for dementia sufferers. 'It is vital that dementia is brought to the attention of the government and the public at large to enable changes to be made to both the diagnosis and treatments and bring hope for the future.' A huge thank you to Chris for sharing her and Bob's story to make a difference. The more we talk, the more people in power have to listen 👂 #GeneralElection #Dementia #Campaign

There can be lots of misinformation in the media and online about dementia. This is usually around claims that something can ‘cure’ or ‘cause’ dementia. If we want to raise awareness of dementia, it’s important to spot and stop stories that are fake or exaggerated. Here are 5 tips on how to identify reliable information: 1. Look at how the research was conducted. Headlines claim that a new drug or treatment could ‘cure’ dementia, but if you dig deeper into the research, it's probably not so simple. 2. Check how many people were involved in the study. Clinical trials are subject to a step-by-step process, but it is only the results of the large phase 3 trials that determines if a drug is effective. 3. Who is reporting the results? In some rare cases, people who conduct or report on research have their own agenda and will only talk about data that fits their worldview. 4. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Dementia is complex, so it’s unlikely that there will be a single ‘magic bullet’ cure. 5. Check with the experts! We’re here to help you understand dementia research, so look out for our comments or social media posts. For more information on spotting dementia misinformation, visit http://spkl.io/604247RcM.

'When I met my wife Kate in 1981, there was an instant connection and that connection has remained through thick and thin. 'Tragically, Kate was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease around 2016, but her symptoms appeared much earlier. Being a same-sex couple has added an extra layer of difficulty to what was already a hugely stressful time. 'When accessing health and social care, it has quite often felt and feels as though our relationship is not treated as a “proper” relationship, so the extent of the trauma of Alzheimer’s on us is not taken as seriously as it would be if we were a heterosexual couple. 'These days people are mostly wary of being too outwardly homophobic, but they show it in the way they talk and act towards us. I call Kate my wife because she is, but in many ways, that is still a bold move because I find that, generally, people don’t seem to like it. 'Attitudes still very much need challenging and examining. I too often feel people’s awkwardness around us. Sometimes it is clearly homophobia, other times it’s a kind of self-conscious embarrassment; the person not knowing what to do or say about the fact we are a same-sex couple, as well as awkwardness around dementia, a double whammy effect! '3 years ago, I had to make the horrendous decision for Kate to go into a care home. I’d had enormously difficult times coping with Kate on my own for several years, I’m not physically well myself, either. Her condition had progressed and I couldn’t get enough help and we couldn’t afford the number of carers we needed to keep her at home. 'The loss I feel living without Kate and alone now is indescribable and as intense 3 years on, if not worse. It’s horrendous – as it would be for any couple who are joined at the hip and have shared a life for so long, same-sex or not. 'I can only hope and continue to speak out.'

Ahead of the upcoming #GeneralElection we're calling on the next government to make dementia a priority.   But why is it so important?   From the spiralling cost of care to the benefits of focusing on dementia diagnosis, Mark MacDonald, our Associate Director of Advocacy and System Change, examines why the next government can't afford not to put dementia at the top of its agenda. #Dementia #SocialCare #Health

We're standing with the nearly 1 million people living with dementia to say that the next government must make dementia a priority. Will you join us? https://lnkd.in/e7zEhzXy

We need to address inequalities faced by people living with dementia. Our Head of Evidence and Impact, Hayley, explains how we've been working with the Office of Health Economics to better understand the evidence we have and how we can use it to tackle those inequalities. https://lnkd.in/eANtZMbu

So excited to welcome 17 interns to the Society for a series of 6,8 and 12 week placements in partnership with The 10,000 Interns Foundation. The 10,000 Interns Foundation runs two programmes: the 10,000 Black Interns programme, supporting Black students and graduates, and the 10,000 Able Interns programme, supporting disabled students and graduates. We partnered with the Foundation in 2023 to offer 15 internship placements and are delighted to be continuing this partnership. As part of our five-year strategy, Help and Hope, we want to develop our people, create better career and volunteering opportunities and development, push decision-making down the organisation, and increase diversity to attract and retain the best talent. One way that we can do this is by providing opportunities for young people to develop, gain experience, and progress in their careers. We are looking forward to providing the interns with the opportunity to work on collaborative projects, network with key colleagues, take part in interactive directorate sessions and ultimately, play their part in making a difference to people affected by dementia. We hope to shine a light on the wealth of career opportunities available at Alzheimer’s Society and showcase the range of roles available in the charity sector. We're so grateful that the interns have chosen to work with the Society, and we can't wait to see what they achieve on their internships and beyond.

Are political parties doing enough to prioritise dementia in the General Election? Our Head of Policy, Jennifer Keen, examines the manifesto pledges to see if they address issues that affect the around 1 million people living with the condition across the UK. https://lnkd.in/eMNdKN2k

We’re so excited to be an official charity partner of the London Landmarks Half Marathon again in 2025. This is not your average half marathon - from cultural landmarks to the city's quirky hidden secrets, runners will get to explore the capital on a route like no other! Hear from one of our fantastic runners from who took on the London Landmarks Half Marathon for Alzheimer’s Society this year: 'I decided to run the London Landmarks Half Marathon for Alzheimer's Society in memory of my Grandad who had dementia for many years before he passed away in 2017. I wasn't much of a runner previously and found the event really helped motivate me to get outside and get active, all while raising money for an amazing cause. 'The support from Alzheimer’s Society was second to none, with plenty of advice and tips to help you both with the training and the fundraising. The race day was a highlight of my year, with a great atmosphere through the whole course, including at the Alzheimer's Society cheer point. I was really pleased to raise over £1,300 for the charity, much more than I thought I would! 'I'd absolutely recommend taking part in the event for Alzheimer's Society. Set yourself a challenge and help raise money to end the devastation of dementia.'