Barbara appeals for 'Malcolm's legacy'

Calling for an end to the controversy surrounding the scenes of Malcolm's final days, campaigner Barbara has issued a ten-point plan 'Malcolm's Legacy' to improve the lives of the 700,000 people in the UK with dementia.

Barbara, 67, from Cambridge, said,

'When Malcolm and I started our journey I had no idea what to expect. Little did we know the horrors and struggles that we had to face over fifteen long years. Now our journey is over I want Malcolm's legacy to be a better future for the thousands that will follow him along this difficult road. I hope that now people have seen the documentary, and have had an opportunity to make their own mind up about the film, they will realise why we felt compelled to share our experience of this (dreadful) cruel, terminal disease. We cannot afford to keep dementia in the shadows, hidden away from our day-to-day lives. I don't want the public's memory of Malcolm to be a few weeks of media headlines, I want it to be a lasting legacy for everyone affected by dementia.'

Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, says,

'Malcolm and Barbara: Love's Farewell shone a light on the harsh reality of dementia. Their plight echoes the experiences of thousands of families up and down the country who face a daily battle against Alzheimer's disease. There was nothing fake about Malcolm and Barbara's story. Now we need to work together to ensure that the story for people facing dementia in the future is very different. I would encourage anyone who was moved by the documentary to join our fight. Together we can defeat dementia.'

Notes for editors

• 'Malcolm and Barbara: Love's farewell' was screened on Wednesday 8 August at 9pm. The programme followed Malcolm's journey from being a highly skilled musician and composer, husband and father to the last years of his life. It follows the family for 11 years as Malcolm battles Alzheimer's disease. It illustrates the personal impact of issues such as the terminal nature of dementia, the battles carers face and the lack of specialist dementia care.
• Alzheimer's is a progressive disease that causes a person's ability to remember, understand, communicate and reason to decline. It is the most common form of dementia.
• 1 in 3 older people will end their life with dementia.
• 700,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer's disease. In less than 20 years nearly a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051. 1 in 5 people over 80 have dementia.
• The Alzheimer's Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and those who care for them. The Alzheimer's Society works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• As a charity, the Alzheimer's Society depends on the generosity of the public to help it care, research and campaign for people with dementia. You can donate now by calling 0845 306 0898 or visiting http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/. 
• The Alzheimer's Society Dementia Helpline number is 0845 300 0336 or visit http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/.