This campaign led by the Alzheimer’s Society aims to ensure that everyone with dementia has a right to know about their condition in order to tackle it head on, a right to know about the information and advice available to them, and a right to be fully supported after their diagnosis.

According to the Alzheimer’s Society:

• 52% of people with dementia in the UK do not receive a formal dementia diagnosis.
• The length of time you have to wait to receive a diagnosis varies hugely depending on where you live, from 2 weeks to over 6 months.
• Once diagnosed, many people are not given adequate support to come to terms with their diagnosis and manage their condition. A recent Alzheimer’s Society poll found that 90% of people felt unsupported after their diagnosis.

The Alzheimer’s Society is calling for the Government and the NHS to do more to support people with dementia as they receive their diagnosis and immediately afterwards.

The Right to Know campaign aims to ensure that:

• More people receive a diagnosis so that they can plan for the future whilst still able to.
• No one to waits longer than 12 weeks from seeing their GP to getting their diagnosis.
• Everyone diagnosed with dementia should have access to a Dementia Adviser (or equivalent) to help them come to terms with their new condition. They will be able to answer simple questions about dementia and signpost to services available locally.

In the video below, published by the Alzheimer’s Society, Nick and June talk about their experience of getting a dementia diagnosis, and finding support afterwards.

Go to https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/righttoknow for more information about the Right to Know campaign.

Write to yourlocal MP to tell them why you’re supporting the campaign