There are currently around 850,000 people in the UK with dementia. It mainly affects people over the age of 65 (one in 14 people in this age group have dementia) but it can also affect younger people and there are more than 42,000 people in the UK under 65 with dementia.
Dementia Friends is a programme led by the Alzheimer’s Society to change people’s perceptions of dementia and to create dementia-friendly communities, improving the lives of people living with dementia.
Our Sutton Befrienders project aims to reduce social isolation and loneliness and we work with adults of all ages who have found themselves lonely or isolated. We support several people with dementia. We also run our own version of ‘Old People’s Home for 4yr olds’ with a weekly playgroup in Dymond House in Wallington, a Care Home that specialises in care for people living with Dementia.
Our Sutton Befrienders co-ordinators, Georgina and Irene, recently trained as Dementia Friends Champions. A Dementia Friends Champion is a trained volunteer who runs Information Sessions in their community.
You can help make Sutton a Dementia Friendly Community by becoming a Dementia Friend and attending our next Dementia Friends Information Session. You’ll learn five key messages about dementia and a little bit about what it is like to live with dementia. You’ll be able to think about how to turn your understanding into action.
Our next session is on Wednesday 12th June and you can book your free ticket here.
To find out more about Dementia Friends visit dementiafriends.org.uk.
To find out more about Sutton Befrienders visit vcsutton.org.uk/sutton-befrienders.
