Cabinet to become ‘Dementia Friends’

All Cabinet ministers are going to join David Cameron in becoming Dementia Friends, the Prime Minister revealed in an interview with BBC Radio Oxford.  

The Prime Minister was talking in response to the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) report on dementia care, which found that nine of ten units inspected were found to be failing at some level.  

He revealed that plans are now being made to train all Cabinet ministers to be ‘dementia friends’ after the issue was discussed in a Cabinet meeting.

“We have trained, nationwide, something like a million Dementia Friends. I have become one myself. I did the training. It's a fascinating thing to do and I would encourage people to do it.

“We discussed it at the Cabinet this morning [Tuesday 14th October] and the whole Cabinet has agreed to become Dementia Friends and we are going to make sure that happens at a future Cabinet meeting.”

Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme is an initiative designed to change people’s perceptions of dementia. It aims to transform the way the nation thinks, talks and acts when it comes to the condition.

Following David Cameron’s announcement on BBC Radio Oxford, the charity’s Chief Executive, Jeremy Hughes, commented: “It is excellent leadership that all the Cabinet will be joining David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Jeremy Hunt in becoming Dementia Friends. They join Ed Milliband and many other Parliamentarians, as well as hundreds of thousands of people nationwide, who are already Dementia Friends.

“Whether you attend a face-to-face session or watch the online video, Dementia Friends is about learning more about dementia and the small ways you can help. From telling friends about the Dementia Friends programme to visiting someone you know living with dementia, every action counts. Go to dementiafriends.org.uk to find out more.”