Jacob Rees Mogg MP writes:

Last week was Dementia Action Week (16th-22nd May) and on Wednesday an event was held in Parliament to launch its new campaign: "It's not called getting old, it's called getting ill". 

I have recently learned that there are 3,670 people living with dementia in Bath and North East Somerset, with a total of circa 900,000 across the United Kingdom (UK), which is set to rise to 1.6m by 2040. However, with diagnosis rates currently lower than usual it is believed that there are tens of thousands of people now living with undiagnosed dementia. This means that they do not have access to the vital care and support that a diagnosis can bring.

New research from Alzheimer's Society shows that some people do not seek out a diagnosis because they think memory loss is just part of getting old. Moreover, some do not recognise the signs of dementia or are just in denial about their symptoms. Though the thought of diagnosis can be daunting, over nine in ten people who suffer from the condition say they have benefitted from getting a diagnosis because there is help available for them come to terms with it or plan for the future. It is, therefore, vital to contact your GP or seek out assistance from the Society if you think that you or someone you know may be suffering.

A number of constituents have written to me about this recently so I am pleased to be able to share the information that I have received from the Society and learn about the work that it is undertaking to ensure that no-one faces this devastating disease alone. 

Support and more guidance can be found here: www.alzheimers.org.uk/memoryloss or please telephone: 0333 150 3456. There is also an Alzheimer's Society YouTube channel www.youtube.com/AlzheimersSociety.

Please do not hesitate to contact me: www.jacobreesmogg,com/ [email protected]