Dementia Community Roadshow provides lifeline to 100,000 families

With more than a million people predicted to be living with undiagnosed dementia in 2021, the Roadshow is an essential first step in providing much needed information and advice about the condition.

The Charity of the Year partnership launched in March this year and published a joint Mapping the Dementia Gap study that revealed huge variations in the numbers of people with dementia receiving a diagnosis around the UK. Overall, 60% of people with dementia in the UK currently don't have a diagnosis. Many people delay seeking help because of low awareness of symptoms and treatments or fear they will lose their independence. But a formal diagnosis is vital for people with dementia so they can access drugs, support and advice to enable them to live well with the condition.

The Dementia Community Roadshow aims to reach 100,000 people over three years and will visit Tesco car parks across the UK spending two days at every store it visits. The Roadshow will help raise awareness, provide vital information and advice on dementia, direct people to essential, local services and help bring people concerned about their memory one step closer to achieving a diagnosis.

Britt Ekland, film star, former Bond girl and Patron of Alzheimer's Society will launch the first Roadshow event in Belfast on 14 June. She says:

'My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in her early 50s and in those days it wasn't so understood as it is today. I hope this Roadshow continues to lift the taboos around dementia and I'd really encourage anyone with questions about the condition to visit the website and find out when a Roadshow is visiting them.'

Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive, Alzheimer's Society says:

'It's really worrying that sixty per cent of people with dementia in the UK don't have access to the help and support they need. Thanks to our partnership with Tesco, we are starting a Roadshow that really is pioneering. It will help us reach out to communities, tackle stigma by raising awareness of the condition and encourage people who are worried about their memory to visit their GP.'

David Reid, Chairman, Tesco said:

'We're very proud to help Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer Scotland raise awareness of dementia in the communities our stores serve across the UK.  Almost half of our staff and customers have a loved one or friend with dementia.  We hope that customers take the opportunity to visit the Roadshow and together we hope to build a better future for people with dementia.'

People can find out when the Dementia Community Roadshow will be in their area or can request the Roadshow visits a Tesco store near them at www.alzheimers-tesco.org.uk. If people are worried about their memory, or are affected by dementia, and the Dementia Community Roadshow isn't coming to their area soon, they can visit alzheimers.org.uk  for further information and advice.

Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer Scotland are Tesco Charity of the Year 2011. Together they aim to raise £5 million and for each day of the partnership, aim to help 300 people live better with dementia. As well as the Roadshow, the partnership will fund new research and dementia support professionals to help those living with the condition.

Dementia and diagnosis rates for the UK are available in an interactive map at www.alzheimers-tesco.org.uk