Scottish Catholic Observer

The Scottish Government’s Minister for Mental Health, Maureen Watt said it is ‘hugely encouraging to see churches playing their part in making our communities more dementia-friendly.’

“Dementia is a major public health challenge and the Scottish Government is taking action on diagnosis, better post-diagnostic support, and integrated home care, with a third National Dementia Strategy to be published soon,” she said. “I commend this campaign and its great work across Scotland’s communities.”

Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Donald Cameron agreeing saying ‘this is a welcome and extremely helpful campaign.’

“It will help not only those suffering from dementia and the people looking after them, but the churches as well,” he said.

“We all know the number of people living with conditions like Alzheimer’s is increasing, and society has to start adapting to that. Someone suffering from dementia may have been attending church for several decades, so it’s only fair their time in church is enhanced when they need it most.”

Finally Labour inequalities spokeswoman Monica Lennon said: “This is a great campaign which Labour is happy to support.”

“Scottish Labour wants to see the establishment of an implementation group made of up representatives from the Scottish Government, local authorities and charities to look at how we can end care charges, and widen access to neurological services, in the long term.”

The SCO’s dementia Campaign with Alzheimer Scotland is encouraging parishes to take simple steps to help parishioners with dementia and their carers. For more information visit www.alzscot.org or email [email protected]