HEALTH bosses in Kirklees are backing a campaign to educate the public about dementia.

The national initiative, launched by the Department of Health, also aims to demonstrate the simple things everyone can do to help people live well with the disease.

More than 4,000 people in Kirklees are affected by dementia and this number is expected to increase by more than 50% over the next 15 years.

Dementia is most common in older people, but can affect adults of any age.

For those who are diagnosed with it there is support on hand to enable them to continue to live a good life.

NHS Kirklees in partnership with Kirklees Council and South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust are backing the new ‘The more we understand the more we can help’ campaign.

The campaign, which highlights real people with dementia, aims to give people the confidence to seek help early and to know what services they can expect.

It is hoped that the fear and stigma associated with the disease will be greatly decreased if the public and professionals are well informed.

The campaign will appear on TV, radio, online and in print across the UK.

Ruth Sutherland, acting chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “People with dementia tell us that, once diagnosed, others begin to act differently or avoid them altogether.

“This has a huge impact on their lives, but we know that with the right support people can continue to enjoy a good quality of life.”