Black dementia sufferers targeted

A video details help on offer to sufferers and carers

A leading charity has begun a campaign to fight the stigma of dementia within from black and Asian communities.

The Alzheimer's Society is concerned that people from minority ethnic groups and their carers are not coming forward to get the help on offer.

Over 700,000 people in the UK have some form of dementia - with more than 1.5m sufferers expected by 2050.

Figures from the Alzheimer's Society suggest around 6,000 people from an ethnic minority group currently have dementia - a number that is increasing as that population ages.

Actor Paul Barber is spearheading the campaign

A spokeswoman for the society, Catherine Griffiths, said there was no evidence to suggest dementia was any more prevalent among ethnic minorities but they were vastly under-represented in the society's 22,000 membership.

"We don't seem to be getting message across there. The worry is that dementia is seen as shameful and something to be kept within the family," said Ms Griffiths.

The centre piece of the new campaign is a video narrated by "The Full Monty" actor Paul Barber, which features black health professionals, carers and dementia sufferers.

It will be distributed by black groups working with the society and workers in the society's own Black and Minority Ethnic community project.

Ms Griffiths said the initiative was one of a number launched by the society including a helpline with advice available in 30 languages for non-English speakers.

'Different needs'

They hoped that by persuading more black people to come forward more culturally sensitive services could be developed, she added.

That is also the hope of one woman whose husband developed dementia six years ago.

She said she hoped the Alzheimer's Society campaign would be a starting point for more appropriates services for black and Asian dementia sufferers.

"I have had to fight for acceptable services for my husband," she said.

"I have had to accept services for my husband, which are not appropriate for him in terms of his culture, interests and so on but I do not have a choice.

"My husband's needs as a Caribbean person with dementia and mine as a Caribbean carer are not special needs but different needs, " she said.