Dickson Speaks in Support of Dementia Friendly Policy on World Alzheimer’s Day

East Antrim Alliance MLA, Stewart Dickson, has spoken in the Assembly in support of making Northern Ireland more dementia friendly.

Mr Dickson commented: “Today, Monday 21st September, is World Alzheimer’s Day, and it is time we spoke up and broke the silence on the issue of dementia in our society. Around 22,000 people suffer from dementia in Northern Ireland, we need to be working to ensure that they have support to live with dignity and in a society that is inclusive and considerate of their needs.

“Furthermore, I want to pay tribute today to the thousands of carers across Northern Ireland who help ensure the wellbeing of people living with dementia. It has been a particularly difficult year, but our carers helped to keep our society going and we must remember this. Unpaid carers need better support from our health system, and paid carers need to be receiving fair pay and conditions for the vital and difficult job that they do.

“One particular example of an inclusive initiative has to be that led by my Alliance Colleague Alderman Gerardine Mulvenna. Gerardine is Mid and East Antrim’s Dementia Champion, and was key to setting up a choir for people with dementia and their families. The choir brings joy, companionship and support to people, and think it is ideas like this that will help ensure that people with dementia are included more fully in our society.”