A CHARITY dedicated to helping the sufferers of dementia and their families is encouraging people to talk about the disease as part of a national awareness week.

Dementia Awareness Week, run by the Alzheimer’s Society, takes place between Sunday, May 19 to Saturday, May 25, and aims to raise awareness of the disease by getting people talking about it.

During the week, the Alzheimer’s Society in Darlington is hosting a number of events to offer advice for sufferers, their carers, and their families.

These include an information and advice stall on Monday, May 20 on High Row from 9am to 5pm and drop-in sessions at West Park Hospital throughout the day; a musical café and sing-along at St Herbert’s Church, Yarm Road, Darlington, from 10am to noon on Tuesday, May 21; dementia café at The Lawns Café, at The Lawns Care home, Risdale Road, Darlington, from 10am to noon.

Alzheimer’s Society dementia support worker, Jenny Leeming, said: “As the population ages, we all face the risk of one day developing dementia. The more we know about the condition, the more prepared we’ll be to face it.

“This event is a great opportunity find out more, talk to us, and join the conversation that everyone’s talking about.”

For more information on the support provided by the Alzheimer’s Society in Darlington, contact Ms Leeming on 07725-214684.