Local MP Caroline Dinenage has made a commitment to make Gosport a dementia friendly area as part of a campaign being run by Alzheimer's Society.
The Dementia Friends initiative seeks to help people understand what it might be like to live with dementia and to turn that understanding into action. It will see people from across the UK signing up to become Dementia Friends and Dementia Friends Champions – roles which will be as varied as helping someone find the right bus to promoting the campaign on social media.
Speaking after the event, Caroline said:
"With one in three people over 65 developing dementia, it is a health issue that we cannot afford to ignore. Most people don't know enough about the disease and the impact that it has upon the people who are living with it.
I am proud to be supporting the Dementia Friends initiative; it is a great way to raise awareness of the condition and to provide invaluable support for those in need. I hope that people across our area will sign up to become a Dementia Friend and make Gosport a dementia friendly community."
Alzheimer's Society is hoping to have one million Dementia Friends by 2015, helping to improve the lives of 650,000 people with dementia in the UK.
For more information and to register as a Dementia Friend, visit www.dementiafriends.org.uk.