‘Seeing the person’ this Dementia Awareness Week

It’s Dementia Awareness Week from 14 – 21 May. To help raise awareness of this disease and highlight the importance of ‘seeing the person’ before seeing their dementia, we’ve asked some of our volunteer Dementia Befrienders about the person they visit and what they get out of the relationship.

Sabine said that her befriendee taught her "how to adapt successfully to changing circumstances and not torment yourself about the things you can't change". While Stephen enjoys his befriendee's "warmth and kindness".

Read our Dementia Befrienders' stories.

Dementia Befrienders visit socially isolated older people with dementia or memory impairement. These visits can make a difference in many ways, from helping someone continue with a much-loved hobby to providing a connection with the local community, and the social interaction increases the older person’s wellbeing and sense of self. 

Watch our short film ‘Loving Life’ about the importance of a person-centred approach in dementia services.

Find out more about our dementia support.