Dr Annet Gamell is the Chief Clinical Officer for the Chiltern Clinical Commissioning Group, made up of 34 GP practices in Amersham, Wycombe and across South Bucks.

Here Dr Gamell writes exclusively for Bucks Free Press readers.

Are you Dementia Friendly? Are you dementia aware? Are we making local places ‘dementia friendly’, and what does it mean to do this?

Dementia is an illness that cuts people off from others, isolating them. As many of your will know from experience, it is tremendously difficult to cope with – both for the person living with it and for anyone watching it affect loved ones.

Its impact can be devastating. Alarmingly, 35 per cent of people living with dementia leave their home less than once a week, while 10 per cent go out only once a month – often preferring to remain shut indoors than risk the problems that could arise away from home.

More generally, dementia is among the illnesses most feared by people aged over 50, with the thought of being a burden to a loved one an added dread.

It is a common condition, affecting more than 800,000 people in the UK. Many of us know someone who has dementia, either directly or indirectly, and plenty of well-known public figures have lived with the condition, including Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, Robin Williams and Terry Pratchett.

‘Dementia’ actually describes a group of symptoms, caused by several diseases that affect the brain, such as Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia and Lewi body dementia.

Although it predominantly affects people over the age of 65, dementia can have onset at an earlier age, and it is not part of the ageing process. There is no cure but, if detected early, there are ways to slow down its progress.

For example, health measures protecting the heart can also help protect the brain, like keeping good blood pressure control, stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake and increasing physical activity. Research into dementia continues – and needs to increase.

ThisLast week (15th to 21st May) was Dementia Awareness Week, which aims to highlight how we can understand and support people living with dementia, and also their carers.

If you are worried about yourself or a loved one, you may not be sure where to turn to for support. Help and information is readily available from organisations like the Alzheimer’s Society and the recently launched Memory Support service in Buckinghamshire.

This new service aims to support people with worries about their memory and those living with dementia. It offers a memory screening test and one-to-one support for individuals and their carers, helping them through all stages of their experience – from initial concerns about memory loss, to diagnosis, and planning support and care (to find out more, call 01296 331749 or email memorysupport@alzheimers.org.uk).

Like so many illnesses, the more we talk openly about it, removing stigma and improving our understanding, the less scary it is and the better able we are to cope. Identifying dementia early means that people can get the support they need and plan for the future.

You can contact the Alzheimer’s Society’s National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122 or email helpline@alzheimers.org.uk.

Information and support is also available at www.dementiauk.org, www.ageuk.org.uk and www.dementiaaction.org.uk.

Dementia friendly organisations and communities are on the increase in Bucks. They focus on making the environment easier to understand and provide support so that those with dementia continue to feel connected and safe.

For information on becoming a dementia friend go to www.dementiafriends.org.uk.

No-one needs to face dementia alone. Let’s all aim to become dementia aware and dementia friendly.