BARROW'S biggest ever drive to make everyone dementia aware and improve care is to be launched next month.

Barrow Dementia Action Alliance is being set up to support people living with dementia and to inspire families, schools and businesses to sign up and become 'Dementia Friends'.

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The project, which is backed by businesswoman Fiona Cloherty, Dr Sam Jebur, the GP lead for dementia in South Cumbria at Cumbria Clinicial Commissioning Group, and groups including the Alzheimer's Society, aims to change the way people in the area think about diseases of the brain.

It will show residents how people with dementia see the world in different ways, how to spot the symptoms and how simple changes in a person's reaction to a confused individual can easily deescalate a crisis.

The alliance will be launched at a big event at The Forum in Duke Street, Barrow, on Friday October 7, which will offer an opportunity for people to take part in quick and easy awareness sessions, hear guest speakers and become official 'Dementia Friends'.

Dr Jebur, who has been one of the driving forces behind the campaign, said: "It's very scary to go to your doctor and talk about dementia. People don't want to go.

"We want to break down these barriers between the community, businesses and the health service."

A huge amount of behind the scenes work has gone into making the project ready for going live this October, with 88 police officers from Furness and GPs across the locality completing several hours of dementia training.

Mrs Cloherty said the vision of the project was to build from the "base up" and better understand something which is estimated to affect two million people in the UK by 2051.

She said: "We have this problem and we need to know how we can deal with it as a community.

"We want the businesses to say 'yes, I want to help'.

"We need every place of work, from the retailers, post offices and supermarkets, to be able to support people with dementia."

Members of the public will be at the forefront of the campaign, with alliance volunteers eager to offer free dementia awareness sessions in every workplace and business in the borough.

Companies who pledge their support will learn a vital amount about dementia, including tips on how to deal with customers with suspected memory problems. After attending a session a member of staff, for example, may be empowered to help an elderly woman struggling with her money at a supermarket checkout or know what to do when a confused man can't remember his home.

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Alongside the project, a five-part action plan has been drawn up to speed up the diagnosis process and free up specialist staff to deal with the most complex cases.

The plan aims to wrap dementia services around primary care so GPs develop specialist clinical skills and work closely with care homes and support workers post diagnosis.

More details are set to be revealed at the launch event but it aims to be the biggest single community effort in the borough of Barrow to educate people, raise awareness and remove the stigma.