Alzheimer's Society survey
Published on 21 May 2013 10:00 AM
A report out today from the Alzheimer's Society says 53% of people in Wales would find it difficult to tell their families if they thought they had dementia.
Commenting on the findings, Age Cymru's Director of Influencing and Programme Development Victoria Lloyd says:
"There are an estimated 37,000 people in Wales with dementia and this is set to rise by 35 per cent over the next 20 years.
"With 1 in 3 people over 65 set to develop some form of dementia clearly we need to be ready for this change and the impact it will have on society as well as individuals who may become ill.
"Preparing for deteriorating health by speaking about it with our families can help give us control over our lives and make sure that our wishes are respected when we may become too ill to speak up for ourselves.
"Initiatives like Age Cymru's ‘My Future' booklet can help by allowing people to keep a record of the issues that are important to them to maintain their self-identity and dignity at a time when they may rely on others to make choices for them."