Charity launches dementia campaign

Thousands of Scots suffer from dementia

A leading charity has launched a campaign aimed at fighting the stigma of dementia.

Alzheimer's Scotland - Action on Dementia has unveiled a series of initiatives aimed at raising public awareness of the condition on Wednesday.

Dementia, of which Alzheimer's Disease is the most common form, affects 58,000 people in Scotland.

The chances of suffering from dementia increase with age, with the condition affecting one in five people over the age of 80.

However, 2,000 Scots between the ages of 40 and 65 are also among the sufferers.

Help card

Alzheimer Scotland hopes the series of initiatives put forward at its national conference will help public understanding of the disease.

These will include a help card for sufferers who may feel lost or need assistance when dealing with money in shops or on buses.

There will be a leaflet for public services staff who may meet someone with dementia during their work.

And the charity is publishing a guide on building dementia-friendly communities.

It says that too many people seek help with dementia too late as it is still a taboo subject, even among families and friends.