“Awareness Has Grown Now Dementia Support Must Catch Up”

Progress has been made but people living with dementia and their families still face inconsistent, patchy support. It’s time for a joined-up national response.

September is World Alzheimer’s Month, a reminder to shine a light on dementia, which affects not only those diagnosed but also their families, friends and communities. Yet despite its scaledementia is still not given the priority it deserves. For over a decade, I’ve worked alongside people living with dementia, their families, and carers to raise awareness and provide support. While awareness has grown, we urgently need a joined-up national response that matches the scale of the challenge.

The Problem

Dementia is one of the fastest growing health and social care challenges of our time, yet support remains patchy, underfunded and inconsistent.

Families are too often left to navigate complex systems alone. Carers, usually relatives or close friends, take on enormous responsibility, often without adequate training, financial support, or respite. I’ve witnessed families worn down by exhaustion, guiltand uncertainty, unsure where to turn.

While medical diagnoses may come and go, the need for consistent, compassionate home and community care remains constant. Without a national dementia strategy too many are left to fall through the cracks.

My Contribution

Awareness raising

Through talks, blogs, community sessions, and media, I work to break down stigma and share knowledge in everyday language. In a recent session, a family member asked me about the diagnosis process at a Memory Clinic. Being able to explain it clearly helped her feel empowered and confident to encourage her brother to seek a diagnosis, showing that understanding the process can be just as important as understanding the person.

Community support

Locally, I founded and lead the Exeter Dementia Action Alliance. Over the years, I’ve seen how small shifts make a big difference: accessible toilet signage in public places, a patient shop assistant slowing down at the till, using supportive language that focuses on the person rather than labelling or stigmatising them, helping others understand that dementia could affect any of us, ensuring there’s a single point of contact in a GP practice to simplify careand connecting with our communities to look out for people who may be living alone without family.

These moments remind me that creating a culture of understanding is just as vital as clinical care.

Influence and advocacy

Alongside my community work, I contribute nationally to help shape dementia services and policy. I sit on the carers advisory panel at Dementia Carers Count, ensuring families’ and carers’ voices are heard in decision making. I also serve on the peer review panel for the Memory Services National Accreditation Programme, which evaluates and strengthens memory services across the country.

At the local level, I support families directly, helping them navigate complex systems and liaise with professionals to ensure their loved ones receive the care they need. These roles remind me that lived experience from families, carers and communities must sit at the heart of how services are designed and delivered. Carers and families aren’t an afterthought they are the backbone of dementia support.

Reflection and Call to Action

Looking across my work, I see my role as a bridge: between research and practice, between families and policymakers, and between local realities and national ambitions.

World Alzheimer’s Month reminds us that dementia is not just a health issue but a societal one. We need a national dementia strategy that reflects the scale of the challenge and prioritises both those living with dementia and the people who support them.

My call is simple: keep talking, keep listening, and keep pushing for action. Awareness alone isn’t enough; only by working together can we create a truly dementia-inclusive society.

Gina Awad BEM

Dementia Consultant | Advocate | Author