More than half of people would struggle to break news of dementia to their families

Thousands of people could be suffering from dementia without family or friends support, according to a report published today.

Research from the Alzheimer’s Society has revealed more than half of people in Wales would find it difficult to tell their families if they thought they had dementia.

The survey – to mark Dementia Awareness Week – found that 53% of people agreed that they would struggle to let a loved one know if they believed they had the condition.

This figure increased when it came to talking about the condition with friends, with 56% saying they would find it difficult to tell their friends if they thought they had dementia.

The charity says this means potentially hundreds of thousands of people are struggling in silence without family or friends for support.

The research also found that more than a third of people (36%) said that they felt more uncomfortable talking to friends about dementia compared to other health problems, such as serious heart or digestive problems.

Meanwhile, family members or friends also said they would struggle to talk to someone they believed may have dementia, with 59% agreeing they would find it difficult to broach the subject with someone they knew if they were worried they were developing the condition.

Sue Phelps, director of Alzheimer’s Society in Wales, said: “It is saddening that dementia is still a condition that many of us would prefer to keep quiet about, especially from our own families.

“Over 44,000 people in Wales are currently living with dementia, and thousands more are affected by the condition in some way, whether it is a family member or a friend.

“Talking can be an important step in changing things for the better. With two thirds of people with dementia living at home, it’s not just friends and families who need to be more open about dementia, but the wider community too. The more we know about dementia, the more prepared we’ll be to face it together.”

The Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Sarah Rochira, said talking about the condition could help challenge the stigma that continues to exist around the disease.

She said: “The figures published today by Alzheimer’s Society show that there is still a huge stigma around dementia and talking about dementia, meaning that older people and their families in Wales could be missing out on vital help and support.

 “By talking more openly about dementia, we’ll challenge the assumptions and misunderstandings about its impact and change the way that society thinks about dementia.

“This is vital to create dementia supportive communities, a key priority for me as Commissioner.

“With over 44,000 people in Wales already living with dementia, and with this set to increase significantly over the coming decade, it’s more important than ever that we all talk about dementia, to break down the stigma around the condition, so that older people and their families no longer need to struggle in silence and can get the help and support that they need, which can make a huge difference to their quality of life.”

Victoria Lloyd, Age Cymru’s director of influencing and programme development, said the number of people with dementia in Wales was set to dramatically increase in coming years and speaking about the condition would help families prepare for this.

She said: “With one in three people over 65 set to develop some form of dementia clearly we need to be ready for this change and the impact it will have on society as well as individuals who may become ill.

 “Preparing for deteriorating health by speaking about it with our families can help give us control over our lives and make sure that our wishes are respected when we may become too ill to speak up for ourselves.”

Source Wales Online