Appeal to seek dementia help
CONCERNS have been raised as new research showed almost a third of people with dementia in the south east lived with the condition for years before seeking help.
An Alzheimer’s Society survey of more than 1,000 people with diagnosed dementia, as well as carers and people still without a diagnosis, found 29 per cent in the region had symptoms for at least two years before getting a diagnosis.
One of the main reasons for delay, according to 32 per cent of respondents in the south east and compared with 42 per cent nationally, was that they assumed the symptoms were just ‘part of getting old’, leading to a delay in accessing treatment, care and support.
In line with Dementia Action Week, which runs from May 16 to 22, the Alzheimer’s Society has launched a new campaign, ‘It’s not called getting old, it’s called getting ill’, to encourage people worried about their own or their loved ones’ memory to seek support in getting a diagnosis.
Linda Goddard, Alzheimer’s Society area manager who covers Portsmouth, said: ‘Asking the same question over and over again is not called getting old, it’s called getting ill. If you’re worried for yourself or someone you love, take the first step this Dementia Action Week – come to Alzheimer’s Society for support.
‘The stark findings of our survey released today show just how dangerous it can be to battle dementia symptoms alone and put off getting help.
‘Yes, getting a diagnosis can be daunting, but it is worth it. More than nine in 10 people with dementia told us they benefited from getting a diagnosis – it gave them crucial access to treatment, care and support, and precious time to plan for the future.
‘With the pandemic causing diagnosis rates to plunge, it’s more important than ever to seek help. You don’t have to face dementia alone, we’re here to support everyone affected.’
The survey also revealed that in the south east more than a third (35 per cent) of those who were diagnosed after two years only sought a diagnosis because they had reached a crisis point, with more than two thirds struggling to look after themselves (69 per cent), more than a third finding it too difficult to cope (38 per cent), and almost half having an accident (46 per cent) before they sought help.
There are 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK, including an estimated 2,360 in Portsmouth.
10 signs of possible dementia:
Forgetting things more frequently
Losing track of date and time
• Not finding the right
words
• Becoming withdrawn and less social
Finding it hard to complete familiar tasks
Putting things in unusual places
Difficulty understanding what you see • Trouble making informed and careful decisions
Regularly getting distracted and losing focus
Changes in mood and behaviour
Visit alzheimers.org.uk/ memoryloss or call Alzheimer’s Society’s dementia connect support line on 0333 150 3456.