Local MP, Maria Miler is encouraging Basingstoke constituents to become “Dementia Friends” a scheme to help to boost early diagnosis for dementia patients and help the public to understand the condition better.

The Dementia Friends scheme jointly funded by the Department of Health and the Office of Civil Society, ambition is to give a million people a better understanding of dementia by 2015. Dementia Friends can use their knowledge in day to day life and through opportunities to volunteer to support people with the condition in their community, wards and care homes

Maria said “There are currently 800,000[i] people with dementia in the UK with 19,209 people in Hampshire, understanding Dementia is vital. Too many people with dementia feel lonely, fearful and cut off, without the support and understanding they need.

I welcome the Dementia Friends scheme and encourage all Basingstoke residents to become Dementia Friends, With support and understanding from the public, people with dementia can live well. We need to raise awareness of dementia, and build dementia friendly communities'

Dementia Friends Champions attend a one day training course on how to deliver the sessions as well as ongoing support from Alzheimer's Society. Anyone who wants to join Dementia Friends and help create more communities that are dementia friendly can go to dementiafriends.org.uk to find their nearest Dementia Friends session or to volunteer as a Dementia Friends Champion.