A County Durham pensioner has backed an Alzheimer's Society campaign urging people not to "avoid the 'd' word" - and spoken about how being diagnosed herself has meant she is able to "get on with my life".
Ada Bingham, 68, began to experience some symptoms of dementia, but it still took her three visits to a GP before she was diagnosed. Now, during Dementia Action Week, Ada - who is from Stanley - has spoken about the importance of getting medical support as quickly as possible, because that can make treating the condition easier.
This comes as the charity reveals figures showing almost one in three people in the North East (31%) waited more than a month after noticing symptoms of dementia in themselves or a loved one before raising concerns. The Alzheimer's Society's survey of more than 1,000 people focussed on how people reacted to the potential of dementia, and the charity is highlighting how the results show the stigma around dementia can be damaging.
