Redditch & Bromsgrove Dementia Friends Together

What is a Dementia Friendly Community?

Redditch & Bromsgrove Dementia Friends Together are part of the Alzheimer's Society Dementia Friendly Communities programme, which focuses on improving inclusion and quality of life for people with dementia. Our Dementia Friends initiative is a key part of the programme

Making a brighter future

What do the public think?

In the UK it is estimated that 850,000 people have dementia. By 2021 this will increase to over 1 million people and by 2051 this will hit over 2 million. This is a growing concern that isn’t going away and should be high on everyone agenda. 1/3 of people live alone.

Public perceptions of dementia.

What is Dementia?

The term dementia describes a set of symptoms including memory loss, mood changes, and problems with communication and reasoning, which may cause difficulties with day-to-day tasks such as shopping and handling money. Dementia is not a natural part of growing old. It is caused by diseases of the brain, the most common being Alzheimer’s. Dementia is progressive, which means the symptoms will gradually get worse. There currently is no cure and very little medical intervention.

Dementia is considered a social problem, rather than a medical condition, so unlike people with other conditions, for example cancer, people with dementia often pay for basic services, such as help with washing, toileting and dressing – effectively they are already subject to a ‘Dementia Tax’.

People don’t just lose their memories, they can lose confidence and may withdraw from the community causing loneliness and isolation and often making the symptoms worse. Often people may lose their friendships, careers, and the relationships they once had with their family members.