'We must not shun people afflicted with dementia'

NEARLY 100,000 people in the South East suffer from dementia but new research reveals that they are often shunned and their condition misunderstood.

Figures released by the Department of Health show that one in three people are "uncomfortable" around people with dementia and 53 per cent said they did not know enough about the condition to help.

In the Mid Sussex area, 7.2 per cent of over 65s suffer from dementia and 1.21 per cent of the district population are sufferers.

Twenty-five people aged 30-64 have been identified as having dementia and a total of 1,163 people in the district.

Living Well, a new awareness campaign, was launched by the Care Services minister Phil Hope this week. He said: "Dementia doesn't discriminate and neither should we."

People often fear the condition, causing them to avoid sufferers "making them feel isolated and stigmatised", he said.

The campaign was intended to remove the stigma and show simple things that could be done to help people live well with dementia.

"Some people face great difficulties living with dementia - the Living Well campaign is not meant to downplay their experiences," Mr Hope said. "We want to show that with the right support, people can live well with the condition and continue to do the things they enjoy for a number of years following diagnosis."

In East Grinstead, Age Concern runs a Saturday club where people who would otherwise have problems in communicating can do so through art, music and dance.

Carers are often faced with the problem of most sufferers being diagnosed with Alzheimer's when in fact there are about 100 different forms of dementia.

However, Alzheimer's can be treated but the others only "managed".

"It is like calling all vacuum cleaners a Hoover," said Christine van de Valk whose husband, Willem, suffers from Pick's disease.

It is a rare form of dementia which affects people before the age of 65, making a severe impact on their ability to earn a living or support a family.

"Pick's disease sufferers can give the impression nothing is wrong," said Lorraine Del Louth of East Grinstead Age Concern.

"So if they ask for things like day care they are told they are not eligible."

She said the Saturday club was "a lifeline" for dementia sufferers and carers.

The Department of Health figures showed that 81 per cent agreed that some people with dementia could still take part in normal activities.