Former Government Minister Hazel Blears vows to champion rights of people with dementia in new Alzheimer’s Society ambassador role
Former Government Minister Hazel Blears has pledged to champion the rights of people who are living with dementia after being appointed as an Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador.
It is a move that formally signals a determination from the former Secretary of State for Local Government and Communities to support the nation’s leading dementia charity on its mission to help people with dementia to live the lives they want and be included in society.
The former Labour MP’s announcement coincides with Alzheimer’s Society’s first ever national Dementia Action Week (21-27 May), renamed from Dementia Awareness Week, in recognition that it is action that is urgently needed to help people with dementia and their carers get the support they need and feel included and not abandoned in their communities.
Hazel put her determination into action this week. As part of her role as the Chair of the Institute for Dementia in Salford, she took part in a roundtable discussion exploring the way that dementia is portrayed in the media, popular culture and beyond, at Salford University.
She added a strong voice to a panel, which also included actor Christopher Eccleston, showing how stigma can still abound.
Hazel also organised an event on healthy ageing, which was attended by Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.
Commenting on her new Alzheimer’s Society role, Hazel said:
“I became an Ambassador because I believe Alzheimer’s Society does an amazing job at raising the profile of dementia and supporting those who are affected by it, as well as providing services and unlocking the answers for the future through research.
“I’ve been a Dementia Friend for four years now, and I know that dementia is a problem that affects every family, whether directly or indirectly. The more we can work together to challenge the stigma that people with dementia face, the better we can help those affected by dementia to live well with their diagnosis.
“My mum, Dorothy, had dementia for nine years. We were lucky enough to be able to keep her at home as her symptoms progressed, but there are people for whom this may not be possible.
“This is why the work that Alzheimer’s Society does is so important, championing the rights of people with dementia, and ensuring that every person affected by dementia has a voice that is heard, and gets the support they need.”
Welcoming Hazel as a new ambassador, Jeremy Hughes, Alzheimer’s Society Chief Executive Officer, said:
“Hazel Blears had a successful term as one of our Trustees and is now using her considerable energy, influence and campaigning spirit, to help us to get the message out there that things must change for people with dementia.
“Hazel has been a huge advocate of the newly-created Dementia Statements, which enshrine a vision for the things people with dementia should expect, rooted in human rights law, as well as our approach to unite everyone against dementia.
“With one person developing dementia every three minutes in the UK, we are delighted to have Hazel on side as a much-valued Ambassador. Her work in Dementia Action Week alone shows the impact she can make.” and everyone knows someone whose life has been affected but yet too many people face it alone, without adequate support.
“Together we will power the growing dementia movement for change and we are urging everyone else to follow Hazel’s lead and to get involved this Dementia Action Week and pledge their support.”
Hazel is among several high-profile figures who have agreed to become Alzheimer’s Society ambassadors alongside:
- Actor Vicky McClure
- Former Lloyds Banking Group strategist Dr Kamel Hothi OBE
- Iceland founder Sir Malcolm Walker
- Hotelier Laurence Geller CBE
- Investment banker Rupert Adams
- Executive Director, Continental Europe at QBE Europe Chris Wallace
A year on from the largest ever survey of people with dementia ‘Turning up the Volume’, to gather a full picture of living with dementia today, Alzheimer’s Society talked to more than 500 people affected by dementia and those working with them, as part of Dementia Action Week. Alarmingly, people reported the loss of their friends and social life post-diagnosis, facing isolation caused by public stigma, fear and misunderstandings of dementia, and of how to interact with people living with the condition.
People affected by dementia highlighted the small actions that would have a big impact on their lives and enable them to live the lives they choose, such as continuing to invite people with dementia out and making sure you listen and include them in conversations.
While much progress has been made to becoming a dementia friendly UK, including 2.4 million Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Friends trained globally and over 350 dementia friendly communities across the UK, people with dementia tell us that more urgently needs to be done.
Dementia is the biggest health and social challenge facing the UK. With one person diagnosed with dementia every three minutes across the country, almost everyone knows someone affected but too many people face the condition alone, without adequate support.
- To get involved in Dementia Action Week and unite against dementia, visit alzheimers.org.uk/DAW
