Dementia Action Week

Dementia is a progressive, degenerative condition that affects not only the person living with it but their friends and families as well. It affects over 55 million people worldwide and this number is expected to continue to rise over the coming years largely due to an ageing global population and increased life expectancy. Dementia Action Week seeks to inspire action to improve the lives of people affected by dementia, empowering people to take meaningful steps towards change. 

What is Dementia Action Week?

Dementia Action Week is a national awareness campaign led by the Alzheimer’s Society in the UK, held between 16th and 23rd May 2025. It aims to bring communities together to raise awareness and encourage practical changes to support people living with dementia and their families. 

Many people living with dementia experience feelings of isolation, confusion and loneliness. As many symptoms of this disease are also consistent with natural ageing or other medical conditions, this can often lead to delays in diagnosis, discrimination or a lack of support. These are barriers that Dementia Action Week aims to break. 

The Theme for 2025

Every year, National Dementia Week has a different theme that aligns with the goals to challenge the stigma of dementia and break down the barriers in place. 

In 2025, the theme is “Start the conversation, make a difference.” The aim with this theme is to encourage people to start having more open discussions about dementia to reduce the stigma and make it less of a ‘taboo subject’. Open conversations should always be welcomed between people living with dementia or family members to help share concerns and support one another.  If more conversations are had around the topic of dementia, the hope is that it will lead to earlier diagnosis for some and will help those already living with their diagnosis to feel comfortable asking for support and talking about their condition. 

The Importance of Early Diagnosis

An early diagnosis of dementia is critically important to help the person living with it and their families deal with what is happening. This can be hard to achieve as there may be blockers in place, such as the person displaying the symptoms not wanting to seek help or symptoms being missed altogether. However, early diagnosis helps patients and their families, so seeking help as soon possible is key:

• Receive treatment and support sooner: Although there is no cure for dementia, there are treatments available to help slow down progression and manage symptoms.
• Avoid misdiagnosis: It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between symptoms of dementia and other medical problems or normal ageing issues. Early diagnosis will prevent any unnecessary treatments from being offered for the wrong condition. 
• Improve their quality of life: A diagnosis of dementia is incredibly hard for families but it can also bring relief knowing that there are answers to questions and reasons for symptoms. Measures can be put in place to help the person living with dementia and guidance will be available to families to help them understand how to support their loved one. 
• Plan for the future: Although dementia is progressive, there may still be many years where the person will be able to participate in legal, financial and care decisions and an early diagnosis will give them as much time as possible. 

Community Action and Support

During Dementia Action Week, many companies, institutions, charities and individuals will come together to raise awareness of this significant cause. 

Our Princes Centre Team will be holding information stalls across Buckinghamshire in locations such as supermarkets, garden centres and shopping malls, signposting people to different events in the local area and advising on where they can receive support. This includes our day centres, where people living with dementia can enjoy activities, make new friends and enjoy being independent, doing the things they enjoy in a safe environment. 

Get involved

There are lots of ways to participate in Dementia Action Week and support the amazing work being done to raise awareness:

• Attend or organise local events: Attend a local event or workshop focused on raising awareness of dementia. These will help you gather valuable information and connect you with others who may be looking to do the same or facing similar challenges.  If you are organising an event, there are some great resources available to assist you. 
• Volunteer:  Find an organisation near you that works with people living with dementia and volunteer your time when you can. If time is an issue, consider donating to those organisations. 
• Educate yourself and others: Arming yourself with the correct information and guidance will not only help you support a loved one living with dementia but it will also help you inform others or perhaps even recognise symptoms in another person which may help with an early diagnosis. 

Come and Say Hello!

The Princes Centre Team will be in the following locations this month, raising awareness for Dementia Action Week:

• Asda, High Wycombe - Monday 19th May, 10am-2pm
• Matalan, High Wycombe - Tuesday 20th May, 10am-2pm
• Chiltern Nurseries, Wendover - Wednesday 21st May, 10am-2pm

Day Centres for People Living With Dementia

Day centres offer a huge range of benefits for people living with dementia and their families to support mental, emotional and social wellbeing in a safe environment. Key benefits include:

• Cognitive stimulation: Activities such as board games, singing, baking and gardening are available to help maintain memory and thinking skills
• Maintaining independence: Individuals are encouraged to share their personal goals and any activities they are particularly interested in to ensure their needs are catered to. 
• Respite for caregivers: Day centres offer a break from daily responsibilities whilst having peace of mind that their loved ones are being cared for.
• Improving wellbeing: Regularly attending a day centre can significantly improve the quality of life for a person living with dementia.

Do You Need Support for Dementia? 

If you or someone you care about is living with dementia, we are here to offer support. If you would like to find out more about our day centres, please contact us today and speak to a member of our friendly team.

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