Our story began in 1979 with a small group of passionate and determined people who shared an ambition to make life better for carers of people with dementia. They united to improve care, set up and improve research and educate people about dementia. Today we are committed to ensuring the rights of people both living with dementia and their carers are recognised, and until the day we find a cure, we will be here to support anyone affected by dementia.

From a condition never discussed and little understood 40 years ago, we have brought dementia out of the shadows, challenging stigma and changing behaviour through our 2.7 million Dementia Friends and 330 dementia friendly communities.

We’re proud to support the voices of people with dementia. We want individuals, organisations and communities to unite with us to ensure people with dementia’s rights are upheld. Our Dementia Statements reflect the things people with dementia have said are essential to their quality of life and they are grounded in human rights law. We need these to become reality, so that people affected by dementia are included in their communities and supported to live the lives they want.

Over the next 40 years, we must have a properly funded, fully integrated, person-centred health and social care system that better meets the needs of people with dementia and those who care for them, ending the iniquity faced by people with dementia.

From the unknown thousands in 1979, to the 850,000 people known to have dementia today in the UK, Alzheimer’s Society has striven to improve the lives of more and more people with dementia. While much has changed regarding understanding, awareness and diagnosis, we still have no way to effectively cure, prevent or even slow it down and our social care system is in crisis.

Whether you sign up to become a Dementia Friend (www.dementiafriends.org.uk) , volunteer with our Research Network (www.alzheimers.org.uk/research/our-research/patient-and-public-involvement/research-network) or decide to share your own personal experience of dementia (www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-involved/share-your-story) - we can all play our part in uniting against dementia.

  • Helen Green is London Media Officer at the Alzheimer's Society