The views of the public are “crucial” to developing effective care and services for people with dementia, experts have said.
The Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) based at the University of Stirling is hosting an international conference next month and is calling on people to take part in a survey asking what dementia means to them.
Professor June Andrews, director, will then present initial findings from The Big Ask – the largest study of its kind.
The conference brings together health and social care delegates, people with dementia and their carers to focus on key issues around care, innovation and good practice.
It forms part of the year-long Dementia Festival of Ideas to mark the 25th anniversary of the centre and will take place in Birmingham on November 3-4.
Prof Andrews said: “We have a fantastic line-up of speakers from the UK and across the globe. Together we can share best practice and set the agenda as we look to address one of society’s biggest health concerns of the 21st Century.
“One in three babies born in the UK this year will be affected by dementia by the time they die in old age, according to recent research.”
She added: “As you would expect, crucial to developing effective care and services for people with dementia is to find out what people think about the condition.
“The Big Ask will help us do just that and I would urge as many people as possible to complete the online survey and help to shape the direction of dementia care and support.”
A full report from the survey will be published in December.