September is World Alzheimer's Month, with World Alzheimer's Day having taken place on September 21st.
Alzheimer’s disease is a physical illness which damages a person’s brain. This eventually causes dementia, affecting memory and thinking. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia.
Despite common misconceptions, dementia is not a normal part of ageing. It is a progressive, terminal, and currently incurable condition.
The impact of Alzheimer’s, in fact all types of dementia, is enormous - it devastates lives and overwhelms the health and social care system, and the economy.
There are approximately 51,000 people currently living with dementia in Wales.
The biggest risk factor for dementia is aging, and as the proportion of the population who are aged 65 years and over increases, Wales’s ageing population may present a problem in terms of dementia care. By 2040, the number of older people living with dementia in Wales is projected to rise by 37% to almost 70,000 people.
Considering the present and increasing prevalence and impact of dementia, it is disgraceful that this major health issue is still not being made the priority it needs to be.
Diagnosis rates are too low in every part of the UK, but Wales has the lowest published diagnosis rate at 56% - leaving nearly half of people with dementia to cope without the support, care, and treatment a diagnosis can bring.
More therefore needs to be done to make people aware of the symptoms of dementia, which include;
- Memory loss
For example, forgetting things that happened recently, problems with recall.
- Difficulty concentrating, planning or organising
For example, struggling to make decisions, solve problems or follow a series of steps (such as cooking a meal).
- Problems with language and communication
For example, difficulties finding the right words, struggling to respond appropriately or follow a conversation.
- Misunderstanding what is being seen
For example, misidentifying things, struggling to judge distance (such as on stairs), and misinterpreting reflections, or hallucinating.
- Being confused about time or place
For example, losing track of the time or date, or becoming confused about where they are, or what time of their life they are in.
- Mood changes or difficulty controlling emotions
For example, becoming unusually anxious, irritable, sad or frightened, losing interest in things and personality changes.
It is also important that those living with dementia and their families are properly supported.
The Alzheimer's Society asked people with the condition along with those who care for them across Wales, England and Northern Ireland about the amount of support they received, and one in five of the near 3,500 people surveyed said they got no support after diagnosis, while only 29% said care related to dementia was easy to access.
This is unacceptable and needs to change. Here in Wales, the Welsh Government needs to ensure that its next Dementia Action Plan has a bold commitment to meet the needs of people who are living with dementia and their carers.
In North Wales we are very fortunate to have the excellent North Wales Dementia Centre, based in Mochdre, which I recently re-visited.
The Carers Trust opened the centre in 2021 and since that time it has played an instrumental role in helping thousands of families whose lives have been impacted by dementia.
Often following a dementia diagnosis, families feel overwhelmed, isolated and unsure where to turn. This fantastic centre empowers people with dementia and their loved ones with the support and tools they need to navigate this challenging journey.
It hosts community groups, dementia cafes, social activities, emotional support, and gives free training advice and guidance to people with dementia and their families.
You can attend group information sessions if you are living with dementia or are an unpaid carer. One-to-one sessions are also available if you do not feel ready to attend a group session and telephone sessions are available to everyone. As I said after my visit, it is more than just a building, it’s a lifeline for families.
I am thankful for all that they are doing at the centre. Nobody affected by this awful disease should have to walk this difficult journey alone.
The North Wales Dementia Centre services are available to anyone who lives in North Wales. Anyone in need of information, advice or support can call 01492 542212. The centre is based at the Quinton Hazell Enterprise Parc, Glan y Wern Road, Mochdre, Colwyn Bay, LL28 5BS.
- Alzheimer’s Society also provide a range of support services, including their Dementia Support Line: 0333 150 3456. For further information, visit Dementia support services | Alzheimer's Society
