Winchester MP Steve Brine met up with the Alzheimer's Society Dementia Community Roadshow as they visited Winchester on Friday 30th and Saturday 31st March.
The tour comes after a recent announcement by David Cameron that funding for research into dementia is set to be doubled. With over 18,000 people estimated to be living with dementia in Hampshire, the Alzheimer's Society's Roadshow is touring the area until the middle of April providing much-needed information and advice about the condition.
The vehicle, funded by Tesco, was at the Winchester Tesco store on Easton Lane for two days, and local shoppers dropped by to have a chat.
Speaking after the event, Mark Green from Alzheimer's Society said: "We are delighted that the Dementia Community Roadshow is back in Hampshire and hope as many people as possible will take advantage of this free information service. The Roadshow helps us reach out to communities, tackle stigma by raising awareness of the condition and speak to people who are worried about their memory, one to one and encourage them to visit their GP."
Steve Brine said: "It is a scandal that we as a country haven't kept pace with dementia, and the level of diagnosis, understanding and awareness of dementia is shockingly low. Around a quarter of hospital beds are already occupied by someone with dementia, and the total cost of the disease is around £19 billion – that is higher than the costs of cancer, heart disease or stroke.
"In less than ten years, as we all live longer lives, the number of sufferers will reach one million, so we have got to treat this like the national crisis it is. I am delighted the government is acting strongly on this, and I know from my inbox and from meeting people at the Alzheimer's Society's Roadshow that this is something that touches so many people. The other big issue we face in Dementia care is the way treatment and care often falls between the NHS and Social Services; this can and does cause real hardship for people."
Josh Hardie, Tesco Head of Corporate Responsibility, says: "With stores all over Hampshire, we're extremely proud to help Alzheimer's Society raise awareness of dementia. The roadshow is part of the legacy from our Charity of the Year partnership with the society and we hope that it contributes to building a better future for people with dementia."
Pictured; The Roadshow is currently located at Tesco, on Easton Lane in Winnall.
More information ...
People can find out more about where and when the Dementia Community Roadshow will be until mid-April by visiting www.alzheimers.org.uk.