Making sure nobody faces dementia alone

With over 90,000 people living with dementia right now we are now at the point, as a nation, where most people know someone affected by the illness. Every June, people across Scotland come together to show their support to people living with dementia, through Dementia Awareness Week.

Those seven days in June make a big impact. We see it as our annual opportunity to break down the stigma of a dementia diagnosis, raise awareness of the support and care available, as well as debunk common myths.

We're now more than half way through Dementia Awareness Week and the response we have seen has been phenomenal. Right across the country, people are having conversations and spreading the word about dementia; from having a chat over a morning coffee,to sharing videos of the EveryVoice Choir, a dementia friendly singing group, performing at Haymarket Train Station in Edinburgh.

At Alzheimer Scotland, we're focusing on using the week as an opportunity to raise awareness of two very important areas:

Dementia Research

The advances that research makes possible is astounding. Thanks to the latest studies, we are learning more than ever about not only dementia as an illness and what is most important when it comes to care and support and quality of life, but also what can be done to help prevent dementia.

We're also looking to the future. We work closely with our partner organisations, in Scotland and across the globe, to ensure breakthroughs in care and treatments take place, in our quest to ultimately finding a cure. It's only with action today, that we can enable the steps of progress for the years to come in Scotland.

Dementia research is crucial to making a difference for people living with dementia now, and in the future. Did you know that dementia research relies on volunteers who do not have dementia, as well as those who do? During Dementia Awareness Week, we'll be encouraging people across the country to sign up to take part in dementia research. Head to www.alzscot.org/DAWresearch for more information.

Local care and support

Making sure people living with dementia have access to the right care, information and support is at the heart of everything we do at Alzheimer Scotland. We provide a wide range of dementia-specific support in local communities across Scotland.

If you or someone you know has dementia, Alzheimer Scotland is here to help. If you are looking for information and support, please consider visiting our website alzscot.org. You can also call or email our Dementia Helpline team made up of expert call handlers. They can provide information and support and put you in touch with one of our teams delivering support in your local community. It's completely free to call from Scotland and they're available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. To get in touch, please call 0808 808 3000 or email helpline@alzscot.org.

To find out more about Dementia Awareness Week, hear stories from people living with dementia, and find out how you can help, please visit www.alzscot.org/daw. Together, we can make sure nobody faces dementia alone.