Three quarters of over-55s have ‘dementia dread’

Unforgettable have carried out a poll to discover attitudes to dementia, and found concern about the illness has increased by almost a quarter since 2012.Worries about developing dementia have soared, with 23 per cent of over-55s admitting they’re more concerned than they were three years ago, according to a poll by Unforgettable.org.We surveyed 2,000 people to find out how we could help, and realised that the fear is often down to misconceptions about dementia, with many believing there is nothing you can do once you’re diagnosed, with 80 per cent of people unaware of products that can help and 87 per cent believing there are limited products and supports for those with dementia and their carers.Interestingly, the worries – dubbed ‘dementia dread’ – are most acute in younger people aged 18-24, with an increase of 31 per cent since 2012.‘Dementia can be incredibly cruel, particularly for families caring for their loved ones, but there is still life to be lived,’ says Unforgettable founder, James Ashwell. ‘Looking back at when we cared for our mum it was a journey into the unknown, we didn’t know what to expect or where to start, but gradually we discovered advice and products that made a big difference to her – and our – quality of life.’It’s why he decided to set up Unforgettable.org – so we could help other people affected by dementia to discover information and products that can help, and tackle the misconceptions that there are no positive steps you can take to help live well with dementia after a diagnosis.Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, agrees;‘In recent years, awareness of dementia has increased and we are beginning to see people being more supportive to their neighbours living with dementia. However, with our social care system in crisis and limited treatments available, it’s no surprise that people’s concerns are increasing as they become more aware of the impact of dementia. There’s a desperate need for products and solutions like those provided by Unforgettable to support them.’We’re really pleased to see other media outlets share the news about how Unforgettable are helping to tackle ‘dementia dread’, including the Daily Express.