Dementia isn’t always obvious but is very much present in our community - 1,744 people in the Brighton & Hove area currently live with dementia. Many of these people struggle to get the support and quality care they are entitled to receive. They’re often isolated, misunderstood by their communities and let down by a broken health and social care system.

During the last Parliament I worked hard to keep this issue on the agenda, urging the Minister of State for Care and Support to take action following a G8 summit on dementia, for example, and tabling a parliamentary question pushing the Government on its dementia strategy.

I’ve heard from a number of people in the Brighton Pavilion constituency with moving accounts of their experience with dementia in their families. I don’t underestimate the overwhelming impact that dementia makes on individuals experiencing changes and on all the people around them, not least family and friends who find themselves in caring roles.

If re-elected next month I’ll continue to pressure the Government to prioritise research and mobilise a response to dementia across society.

In the meantime, to mark Dementia Awareness Week, Alzheimer’s Society is holding an event at Montague House in Brighton today from 2.30 - 4.30pm. I can’t make it but am delighted to share the poster (pictured) in order to spread the word.