Friday 21 September is World Alzheimer’s Day

Today is World Alzheimer’s Day and it is being marked by dementia charities across the globe. Alzheimer Scotland is also recognising the significance of World Alzheimer’s Day with its own events.

Alzheimer’s Disease International, the umbrella organisation for dementia charities all over the world, have launched their latest report – Overcoming the stigma of dementia. The report shows that:

•75% of people with dementia and 64% of family carers believe there are negative associations for those diagnosed with dementia in their countries
•40% of people with dementia report they have been avoided or treated differently

Members of the Scottish Dementia Working Group (who are supported by Alzheimer Scotland) and our National Dementia Carers Action Network have been involved in this research and have shared their experience of the stigma which is still attached to dementia in Scotland, despite significant developments in health and social care in recent years. It shows that we cannot rest on our laurels, but must strive every day to ensure that people with dementia and their carers are treated as equal citizens, as called for in the Charter of Rights for People with Dementia and their Carers in Scotland.

Here in Scotland, we have an information and fundraising stall in Glasgow’s Buchanan Galleries this weekend (until 23 September) and a Memory Walk in North Lanarkshire on 30 September. We have just held the first ever Scotland’s Dementia Awards.

We are also encouraging people to share their world football memories online, via Facebook and Twitter. Our Football Memories project, which has received significant funding from the People’s Postcode Lottery, would like people to share their favourite memories of football on their travels, whether it’s a great overseas match, a five-a-sides game on a far-flung beach or a heated debate in a poolside bar – tell us all!