A charity which helps people with dementia is calling for its community to get involved in a week-long programme of activities and events.

Enfield Dementia Action Alliance is asking everyone in the borough to come together for Dementia Awareness Week between Sunday May 14 and Sunday May 21.

Enfield Asian Welfare Association, Alpha Care Specialists, Enfield AgeUK and Home Care Preferred are four of the many organizations that will be present.

An Enfield Dementia Action Alliance spokesperson, said: “Dementia is set to be the 21st century’s biggest killer.

“But awareness and understanding remains low and many families are facing it alone.

“Diagnosis is a difficult time for someone and it can feel that people have nowhere to go and no one to support them.

“That’s why, during the week, we want everyone to come together and take action.

“By uniting, we can raise awareness, offer help and understanding of dementia.”

Seven members of Enfield Dementia Action Alliance had the honour of meeting TV celebrity Angela Rippon CBE whose mother suffered from dementia at a Dementia 2020 conference on April 13.

Ms Rippon, inspired by her own personal experiences of caring for her mother Edna who sadly passed away in 2009, discussed creating Dementia Friendly Communities.

Dementia Friendly Communities would help people with dementia live fulfilling lives within patient and understanding societies.

Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Society, said: “We’re determined to bring everyone’s attention to the massive injustice faced by people with dementia and their carers, with too many denied the support they need.

“Alzheimer’s Society hears day in, day out about people with dementia and their carers struggle.

“Some people tell us about the impossible choices they have to make, from the carer having to choose between a knee operation and caring for her mum, to a man with young onset dementia who had to give up work and ask his daughter to pay the mortgage.

“We urgently need people to unite with us to improve care, offer help and understanding to those affected and find a cure.

“Together, we can bring about change.”

Awareness and understanding of dementia remains low despite the condition set to become the most deadly condition in years to come.

It can be difficult for someone diagnosed with dementia to accept and come to terms with the news.

Late onset dementia is thought to affect 3,000 people in Enfield, and it is predicted to increase 44 per cent over the next 20 years.

It is estimated that more than 850,000 people having the condition in the UK.

For further information about Enfield Dementia Action Alliance visit www.dementiaaction.org.uk/local_alliances/3470_enfield_dementia_action_alliance, or email alanweinstock@ageukenfield.org.uk.