A new alliance to change society's attitude to dementia and help sufferers and their families has been launched in Ealing.
Ealing Council has marked national Dementia Awareness Week (May 18-24) with the start of Ealing Dementia Action Alliance.
Community groups, businesses and organisations joined Councillor Hitesh Tailor, cabinet member for health and adults services, to officially unveil the new group at Ealing Town Hall on Monday (May 18).
The association aims to encourage people to take practical action to aid people with dementia and their carers.
Local businesses, schools, shops and community groups are encouraged to become members by signing the national dementia declaration and stating how they will work towards delivering its goals.
Dr Sujoy Mukherjee, consultant psychiatrist at the West London Mental Health NHS Trust, will give a series of talks on the condition on Tuesday (May 19) from 5.30pm-7pm at Southall Library; Wednesday (May 20), 5.30pm-7pm at Acton Library; and Thursday (May 21) from 5.30pm-7pm at Ealing Central Library.
Council staff will be encouraged to become a 'Dementia Friend' by committing to learning more about dementia and putting into practice small day-to-day actions that can make a difference to those living with the condition.
Mr Tailor said: “In Ealing, around 2,700 people have dementia, of whom 1,800 live in the community. This will grow as our older population increases and we all need to get better at supporting them.
"That is why as a council, we are encouraging our staff to become dementia friends and we have signed up to the Ealing Dementia Action Alliance. I encourage other local organisations, businesses and groups to sign up to these important initiatives too."
Councillor Penny Jones of the Hobbayne ward has been appointed as Ealing Council’s dementia champion. She said: "I am honoured to have been appointed as the borough's first ever dementia champion and, having had personal experience of caring for a person with dementia, will be able to bring that knowledge and experience to this role."
To join the Ealing Dementia Action Alliance, go to www.dementiaaction.org.uk and search ‘Ealing’. To find out more, email emily.raiher@alzheimers.org.uk.
To find out more about Dementia Friends, go to www.dementiafriends.org.uk.
