Transforming the dementia landscape this conference season
Alzheimer’s Society explain why this conference season it starts with you.
Every day many of the 850,000 people living in the UK with dementia are treated like second-class citizens. People with dementia are more likely to have to pay for care and support themselves than people with other conditions, more likely to stay in hospital for longer and more likely to die there. Dementia costs the UK economy £26.3billion a year – that’s enough to pay every household energy bill in the country.
Dementia research gives us all hope for the future. It will bring about big improvements in diagnosis, treatment and care for people living with the condition. That’s why at Alzheimer’s Society we’re investing £10m a year into research – to provide hope for tomorrow, and improve care today.
But research alone will not change the dementia landscape for everyone. We as individuals must play a role if we are to defeat discrimination, stigma and ultimately create a society where people with dementia can live the life they want, without fear or prejudice. Everyone can play their part, including our political leaders, who play a crucial role in steering the way dementia is viewed in the community and in our country.
This year at party conferences we will be bringing this message to politicians. Alzheimer’s Society will have an interactive exhibition stand showing the challenges people with dementia face on a daily basis by stepping inside ‘Your Front Door’. Delegates will also have the opportunity to hear from people living with dementia who have shared their story with us.
Our fringe events will not only give delegates the opportunity to learn more about dementia through an interactive Dementia Friends session delivered by Members of Parliament, but you will also hear from campaigners with lived experience of the condition, parliamentarians and local government on their perspective, and an insight from our Chief Executive, Jeremy Hughes CBE.
We have an opportunity to transform the way society thinks and acts about dementia – and it starts with you.
Alzheimer’s Society will be exhibiting at Labour Conference (stand 39, Exhibition Hall) and Conservative Conference (stand 04, Hall 3).
Fringe details: ‘How to make 1.5 million friends in 45 minutes: social action for dementia’
Date and time: Tuesday 27th September 8.30-9.45am, Hall 2H3 – ACC, Liverpool
Speakers: Holly Lynch MP (Chair), Heidi Alexander MP, Cllr Iain Malcolm – Leader of South Tyneside Council, Jeremy Hughes – Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Society, Jack Coutts – local dementia campaigner
Date and time: Tuesday 4th October 9-10.15am, Hall 10b, The ICC, Birmingham
Speakers: Damian Hinds MP (Chair), David Mowat MP- Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Community Health and Care (invited), Cllr Izzi Seccombe – Chair of LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, Jeremy Hughes – Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Society, Ken Howard – living with dementia
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