Words by Cheyanne Bryan
This week is all about bringing awareness and understanding to dementia. Dementia refers to a group of symptoms that affect memory, cognitive and social abilities which interfere with daily tasks. Common types are Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia, amongst many others.
We want to spotlight a few dementia-based charities that are supporting individuals with dementia, their caregivers, as well as advocating for better resources and services for those affected by the condition.
Alzheimer's Society is a leading charity organisation in the UK dedicated to supporting individuals affected by dementia, including Alzheimer's disease - a form of dementia. They offer patients a selection of services including advice, support groups, and activities. Their work revolves around reducing the stigma surrounding the condition and encouraging adaptive care.
Find out about their Forget me not Appeal badge here, where all the proceeds goes into funding more research.
Head for Change is a start-up charitable foundation dedicated to driving positive transformations in brain health within the realm of sports. The founders of the charity all have experience with early-onset dementia due to repetitive sports injury and are now dedicated to aid former athletes who are experiencing neurodegenerative conditions due to their past careers in professional sport.
Learn more about their innovative Thrive app – This is the only mental health app endorsed by the NHS, designed to specifically target the prevention and early detection of common mental health conditions.
The Young Dementia Network offers support to individuals diagnosed with early-onset dementia, usually diagnosed before 65 years old. They provide a community filled with resources and information, with a goal to increase awareness of the distinct challenges faced by younger people with dementia and to champion their needs.
Find out more about what they do here.
The Lewy Body Society is a UK charity dedicated to raising awareness and supporting research into Lewy body dementia. This type of dementia is linked to abnormal deposits of a protein in the brain. The charity provides a wealth of information and resources to support people with the condition and spread awareness due to it not being well known. They have also partaken in research to improve the lives of those living with the condition and ultimately find a cure.
Listen to their podcast here.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Age UK. This is a national charity that supports older people facing challenges such as a lack of affordable housing, ill health, isolation and health conditions like dementia. Learn more here.
Dementia UK. This is a charity organisation that provides specialist dementia support for families through their Nurse service and conducts research campaigns for better care. Find out more here.
Dementia Carers Count. This charity works to support the people looking after dementia patients. They provide free online information, confidential telephone support all delivered by health and social care professionals. Support them here.
This article aligns with the UN SDG Good Health and Wellbeing.
