We are preventing people from taking part in society

Learning that you have dementia is a big deal. It’s an illness that scares many people more than any other. Not only is there no cure – there is fear about what will happen to you over the course of the illness. What scares us about dementia? How it will affect our whole lives: our physical and mental health, our ability to go about day-to-day activities, our families and those we care about, our financial situation.

The negative perceptions of people living in poverty are compounded by the stigma which too often surrounds dementia.

And if you have dementia, you should be able to access all the support you need to maintain your quality of life, as should the people who care for you. Health, care, financial and legal support all have a role in maintaining independence or quality of life. This support is out there, but the systems surrounding them can seem complex, bureaucratic and intimidating. That’s why Alzheimer Scotland is working with the Department for Work and Pensions and other organisations to help them better respond to people with dementia, and understand the situations of carers of people with dementia. This is part of a growing recognition by organisations that they do work with people with dementia, and by increasing awareness and responding accordingly, they can make changes to enable people with dementia to access activities and services that help them lead more active, fulfilled lives. It is this work which drives Alzheimer Scotland to support the Scotland's Outlook campaign to raise awareness of the impact of poverty. Poverty is more widespread than many people realise, and raising awareness of that is the first step to challenging its damaging effects. The negative perceptions of people living in poverty are compounded by the stigma which too often surrounds dementia. Such perceptions fail to recognise people with dementia and their carers as individuals who make a positive contribution to society. This prevents them from taking part in society as equal and active citizens. Awareness and acceptance are crucial to developing and maintaining access to the practical and emotional community connections that prolong independent living, as well as ensuring people can navigate the formal systems of supports they need. Alzheimer Scotland is a partner organisation in the Scotland's Outlook campaign. We want people to get angry and get active in the fight against poverty in Scotland.