This week, the Alzheimer’s Society has launched a striking new campaign, ‘Behind Closed Doors’, which aims to shed light on the silent suffering faced by families caring for loved ones with dementia. The campaign highlights the severe lack of support for those affected by the condition, calling on the UK government to prioritise dementia as a critical issue in health and social care.
TV presenter Anna Richardson, whose father is living with vascular dementia, fronted the campaign’s launch and opened the ‘Behind Closed Doors’ exhibition at London’s Southbank. The exhibit shares real stories from families coping with the devastating effects of dementia, revealing the often overlooked struggles they endure.
The campaign follows research that found many carers are left feeling overwhelmed, unsupported, and isolated. This is particularly alarming given that there are currently around 1 million people living with dementia in the UK, with numbers expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040.
Celebrities such as Anne-Marie Duff, David Baddiel, and Suranne Jones have lent their voices to the campaign, bringing to life the heart-breaking calls made to the Alzheimer’s Society’s support line. All have personal connections to dementia, with family members who have lived with the condition, and are urging the public to join the conversation and demand greater political action.
David Baddiel, whose father passed away from dementia, emphasised the importance of talking openly about the disease. “Dementia is scary, but the only way to confront it is by sharing what you’re going through and dispelling the myths,” he said.
Kate Lee, CEO of Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Dementia is the biggest health and social care issue of our time, yet it is being ignored. Thousands of families are suffering in silence, and this must change. We need to get people talking about dementia and hold the government accountable for providing the care that is so desperately needed.”
The Alzheimer’s Society is encouraging people to share their stories of dementia at alzheimers.org.uk/stories to help bring about change and make dementia a national conversation.
