Local Conservative MPs, Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove & Portslade have pledged to take action to support the 800,000 people living with dementia across the UK.
They joined 200 other MPs and representatives from the Alzheimer’s Society in Portcullis House, Westminster to provide a handwritten statement of the action they will take to support people with dementia and their carers. They pledged to help campaign for better dementia care and to work with Alzheimer’s Society to improve support for people with dementia.
Simon said:
“One in three people over 65 will develop dementia, and it is a health issue that we can no longer afford to ignore. I have pledged to support Alzheimer’s Society and help improve dementia care in Brighton Kemptown however I can.
“The Prime Minister was clear when he launched the Dementia Challenge in March 2012 that improving the care of those suffering with dementia was a Government priority. I am very proud of the fact that the Government will double dementia research funding to over £66 million by 2015.”
Alzheimer’s Society campaigners were in Westminster to drum up political support for their trailblazing Dementia Friends initiative that launched in February this year. Dementia Friends aims to help people understand what it might be like to live with dementia and turn that understanding into action. Alzheimer’s Society is aiming to have one million Dementia Friends by 2015, to help make England more dementia-friendly and improve the lives of the 650,000 people currently living with the condition.
The Alzheimer’s Society hopes to have one million Dementia Friends by 2015, which will go a long way in helping to make England more dementia-friendly and improve the lives of the 650,000 people currently living with the condition.
Mike said:
“It was really helpful to meet with representatives from the Alzheimer’s Society in Parliament and to see what MPs can do to help address the problems of both Alzheimer’s and dementia. Most people are unaware that one in three people over 65 will develop dementia, which just goes to highlight why it is so it important that we address this issue in such an open way. I would encourage any residents that wish to take part in the Dementia Friends project to get in touch with this admirable charity.”
During the afternoon, 30 MPs from across England took part in a Dementia Friends session.
Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive at Alzheimer’s Society, said:
“Most people don’t know enough about dementia. Dementia Friends is the perfect opportunity to be able to invite everyone to improve their knowledge. We are pleased to have been able to engage over 130 MPs in one day. They have a huge influence in their local communities and we hope they will use this opportunity to take action and improve lives”.
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