A HOME care provider is backing a campaign to raise dementia awareness.

Home Instead Senior Care, Altrincham and Sale, which wants to tackle the stigma and lack of understanding around dementia, has got the support of Ashton on Mersey village.

The companyis running a free Dementia Friends information session on Tuesday, April 23, and is looking for residents to come along.

Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme is the biggest initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia.

It aims to transform the way the nation thinks, talks and acts about the condition.

Dementia Friends is about learning more about dementia and the small ways people can help. From telling friends about the Dementia Friends programme to visiting someone they know living with dementia, every action counts.

The one-hour session will take place at The Old Plough in Ashton on Mersey Village at 5.45pm

There are currently 850,000 people living with the condition in England.

Having volunteered to be Dementia Friends Champions, Jane Forshaw and Sarah Maunder, of Home Instead Altrincham, are now delivering Dementia Friends sessions to people across Altrincham, Hale, Timperley and Sale.

Jane said: "I signed up to be a Dementia Friends champion because we want part of a growing network of people creating dementia friendly communities together."

Charlotte Adams, Dementia Friends regional support officer at Alzheimer’s Society said: "Dementia touches the lives of millions of people across the country.

"Dementia Friends was launched to tackle the stigma and lack of understanding that means many people with the condition experience loneliness and social exclusion.

"It’s all about learning more about dementia and the small ways you can help. From getting in touch with someone you know living with dementia to wearing your badge with pride, every action counts.’

Anyone wanting to attend the Dementia Friends session should contact Sarah Maunder, Home Instead community support manager. at sarah.maunder@hiscaltrincham.co.uk or 07377 393171.

People can also get involved in Dementia Friends through an online video.

Go to dementiafriends.org.uk to find out more.