The Alzheimer Society of Kenora-Rainy River has launched a new awareness campaign aimed at ending the stigma about dementia.
January is Alzheimer’s Awareness month.
A recent survey finds 50% of people don’t want others to know that they have dementia, while 46% said they would feel ashamed.
Executive Director Rosanna Tomashowski says they usually see caregivers or family members at an emergency state because they aren’t personally ready to let anyone know.
She says a call to them would help change those attitudes.
Tomashowski stresses they have a number of support services available to help people cope.
She adds new Memory Clinics, like the one in Kenora, will be developed elsewhere in the future, to help in diagnosis.