It may not be the most fashionable subject, but dementia is one that needs to be spoken about openly, says Alzheimers Taranaki field worker Shirley McGlinchey.
During her 16 years on the job Shirley has helped families affected by dementia in South Taranaki and spread awareness about the condition. She recently addressed Stratford and Districts Greypower members on the topic, saying that everybody would know somebody with dementia.
"It's a very sensitive subject - talking about it is not fashionable. We need to be a bit more aware to it as it is one of the greatest healthy challenges in New Zealand at the moment."
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a group of conditions that affect how well our brains work. It can affect anyone, and as people get older the chances of developing dementia increase. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease which around two-thirds of people with dementia have.
The reason there is so much more dementia is due to longevity, and genetics also plays a part.