Become a Dementia Friend

What is a Dementia Friend?

 

A Dementia Friend is somebody that learns about dementia so they can help their community.

Too many people affected by dementia feel that society fails to understand the condition they live with. Dementia Friends help by raising awareness and understanding, so that people living with dementia can continue to live in the way they want.

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Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme is the biggest ever initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia. It aims to transform the way the nation thinks, acts and talks about the condition.

Whether you attend a face-to-face Information Session or watch the online video, Dementia Friends is about learning more about dementia and the small ways you can help. From telling friends about the Dementia Friends programme to visiting someone you know living with dementia, every action counts.

 

What does a Dementia Friend do?

 

Dementia Friends help people living with dementia by taking actions - both big and small.

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These actions don’t have to be time-consuming. From visiting someone you know with dementia to being more patient in a shop queue, every action counts! Dementia Friends can also get involved with things like volunteering, campaigning or wearing a badge to raise awareness.

 

Six reasons to become a Dementia Friend?

 

1. Learn about dementia and how it affects a person’s life

What is it actually like to live with dementia? How does it affect someone’s life day-to-day? When you become a Dementia Friend, you’ll learn about the real-life impact of the condition and the small actions we can all take to help.
 

2. Become more confident when spending time with someone with dementia

73% of people who have become Dementia Friends say they now feel more confident interacting with people affected by dementia

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3. Help people affected by dementia to stay active 

Exercise and physical activity may bring many benefits for people with dementia. Many people with dementia experience a loss of self-confidence and become less active in their community. You can help change this by learning about dementia and understanding what actions can help people to stay an active part of their community. That way, people with dementia can continue to take part and do the things they love like visiting a museum, going shopping or having a chinwag at the local pub! Whether swimming lengths or visiting your local cinema, Dementia Friends can help people living with dementia have fun.

 

4. Reduce the stigma around dementia

‘I don’t want to make anyone feel awkward.’ ‘Let’s just leave it.’ ‘I don’t want to talk about it…’

Sound familiar? We shouldn’t be afraid to talk about dementia. And people affected by the condition shouldn’t be ashamed to tell others about their experience. By becoming a Dementia Friend, you’ll be encouraging us all to start talking about dementia openly and honestly.

 

5. Challenge misconceptions of the disease

Dementia is just for old people, right? Wrong. It’s not a natural part of ageing, it affects more than someone’s memory and it’s possible to live well with the condition.  You can challenge the many myths that surround dementia by becoming a Dementia Friend.

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6. Join over 2 million people who are taking action 

One in every 30 people in England, Northern Ireland and Wales are part of the biggest ever social action movement to change perceptions of dementia. That’s an estimated 166,666 hours spent by Dementia Friends, taking on actions to help people with dementia. The equivalent of 19 years! You too can join the Dementia Friends movement. From contributing to the growing number of Dementia Friendly Communities to spending more time with a neighbour who has dementia, every single action counts. Every single one.

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How can I join?

 

It's really easy to become a Dementia Friend. Choose one of the options above - either join us and attend an event in-person in Rutland, do the online version, or as a business, charity or organisation become accredited as a Dementia Friendly Organisation.
 

Who can be a Dementia Friend?

 

Everyone! Dementia Friends is open to anyone who wants to help people with dementia in their community.

 

Become a Dementia Friend