Local Age UK puts the focus on families this Dementia Action Week

Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove is putting the focus on families this Dementia Action Week (18th – 24th May), highlighting the challenges faced by people caring for loved ones with dementia. The charity is urging anyone who is struggling to seek support and respite early, rather than suffering in silence. 

There are estimated to be almost a million people living with dementia in the UK*. For family members and carers, dementia can be challenging to manage, both emotionally and practically. Providing care can be time-consuming, stressful, and costly. A report** published last year found that 70% of unpaid carers said their mental or physical health had been negatively affected - they were spending less time on activities they enjoy or feeling more isolated socially.  
 
In addition, people don’t always know where to turn for help. 1 in 7 unpaid carers are not aware of any type of support available to them and of those who are aware, 45% have not accessed this support.  

Charlie Rayner, Head of Dementia and Extra Care, at Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove (WSBH) said: “Family members sometimes find themselves working tirelessly to support loved ones without a break. This can be difficult and overwhelming, so we’d urge anyone in this situation to get in touch. We have a range of social groups where people with dementia can enjoy themselves in a safe, relaxed atmosphere, while their carer gets some free time. Knowing you don’t need to face dementia alone can make all the difference.” 

The Daybreak Service offers activity groups which aim to promote confidence and social interaction, as well as offering respite for carers. People with dementia can meet others in the same boat and take on activities designed to work on things like motor skills, memory and movement. The service is run by specialist staff in Bognor Regis, Rustington, Storrington, Horsham, Crawley, Burgess Hill and Brighton & Hove.  

One carer was incredibly relieved when she found the Daybreak Service: “Before I found Daybreak, I was desperate and I didn’t know where to turn. After I found the group, it was a complete weight off my shoulders. It gave me some time to be able to get on with things - I get to be ‘me’ again. It is incalculable how much difference the staff at Daybreak make to not only the members, but to the people who are caring for loved ones with dementia too.”   
 
Age UK WSBH hopes to open an additional Daybreak group in Brighton in the year ahead, so more people with dementia, and their carers, have somewhere to turn.  
 
Anyone wishing to support the charity’s dementia services and help change the way we age can donate online at www.ageukwsbh.org.uk or text ‘change’ to 70191 to give £10. The organisation is a network partner of Age UK, but is an independent charity, raising its own funds which are all spent locally. 
 
To find out more about the Age UK WSBH dementia services available for those with the condition, their families and carers, please visit www.ageukwsbh.org.uk, email dementia@ageukwsbh.org.uk or call 0800 019 1310. The charity can also signpost to other groups, in areas it does not cover.   

*982,000 people are estimated to be living with dementia in the UK - Alzheimer’s Society & Carnell Farrar (2024), The Economic Impact of Dementia – Module 1 

** Lived experiences of dementia 2025, Alzheimer’s Society, 2025