A NEW dementia service is being launched to reach out to members of the South Asian community in Kirklees.
Two dementia advisers have been recruited by the Alzheimer’s Society in Huddersfield to work with Asian people affected by the illness.
The new service – called Kal Ki Yaadein, meaning Golden Memories – will support people at GP surgeries across the area.
It will complement the society’s existing team of five support workers to help more than 4,000 Kirklees dementia sufferers and their carers access information and support groups on their doorstep.
The move comes as the number of local cases are expected to rise to 6,250 by 2021.
Huddersfield Alzheimer’s Society manager Richard Chesmond said many people from the South Asian community – such as India and Pakistan – were not accessing information about dementia and not receiving the help they need, because of the stigma of mental health problems.
He said: “When people are diagnosed with dementia they often feel they don’t have enough information.
“At the other extreme, they can be overwhelmed with information and left to understand this alone.
“One in three people over 65 will die with dementia. With the right support people can live well with the condition. That’s what this service is all about.”
For more information call the Alzheimer’s Society on 01484 429865.
