A new survey by the "Dementia: Understand Together" campaign in Ireland has found improving public perceptions and attitudes towards people with dementia since the last time similar questions were asked. The nationally representative survey of over 1,200 people undertaken by Behaviour & Attitudes in July of this year found:
• Welcoming society: when asked about the attitudes of others, 67% of respondents believe most people would accept a person with dementia as a close friend and a similar number (68%) believe most would treat a person with dementia as they would anyone. Both of these results are up from 56% in 2016, showing a significant positive shift in public inclusivity and empathy towards people with dementia.
• Good company: seven in ten (71%) people are happy to spend time with a person with dementia, up from 66% in 2018, and a similar number (72%) are happy to be in a social group in the company of a person with dementia, up from 68% in 2018. When asked if they wouldn’t bother to visit a person with dementia because “they won’t remember” three in four people (76%) rejected this, up from 73% in 2018.
• Active citizens and businesses: in a new survey question asked in 2021, 92% believe that people with dementia have the right to be active citizens in their communities and 81% believe that there are things businesses and service providers can do to make their services accessible to people with dementia.
The focus of the survey reflects an ongoing commitment by the "Dementia: Understand Together" campaign to help create communities that actively embrace and include those living with dementia and their families. Visit www.understandtogether.ie for more information. Dementia: Understand Together is a campaign run by Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE) Health and Wellbeing Division. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is a key partner of the campaign.