Break the silence on dementia

Editor,

There are more than 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK, and someone is diagnosed every three minutes, but as a nation we are remarkably reluctant to think or talk about it.

Anchor Hanover’s research shows that nearly half of the UK (47%) have never had a conversation about dementia with loved ones and the public underestimates its prevalence by 40%.

This concerning trend has been brought into sharp relief by COVID-19, with recent NHS data showing a decline in the number of dementia diagnoses since the pandemic began.

Dementia has been a taboo for far too long. It’s time to break the silence. 

It’s encouraging to see that more people are now realising the importance of talking about and planning for later life.

Discussing dementia may feel embarrassing and uncomfortable for some, but it doesn’t have to be.

Our Reframing Dementia guide aims to encourage honest conversations amongst loved ones, so that for anyone who does develop dementia, there’s a plan in place to ensure they can still live their life to the full.

To find out more, please visit: anchorhanover.org.uk/dementia 

Jane Ashcroft CBE

Chief Executive of Anchor Hanover

The views expressed are those of the author of the letter and not those of Oldham Chronicle.