ILMINSTER is making strides towards becoming a more accommodating town towards dementia sufferers.

According to the latest statistics, there will be 850,000 people with dementia living in the UK by the end of the year.

The Ilminster Dementia Action Alliance is an organisation committed to developing Ilminster as a dementia-friendly community and improving the quality of life for local sufferers and their carers.

A number of businesses in the town have already signed up to the National Dementia Declaration in a bid to help take steps to improve their understanding and committing to specific action plans.

Next week marks National Dementia Awareness Week, and Hazelwell Lodge is holding a coffee morning in the Market Square on Wednesday, May 21 between 9am-1pm.

Claire Kingdon, chairman of the local alliance steering group said: “By raising awareness and taking small steps we can enable people to live well with dementia in our local community.”

Local solicitor Sally Lowe added: “Ilminster is already such a wonderfully friendly community, it won’t take too much effort for us all to participate in raising awareness of the dementia issues faced by so many, and it really is heartwarming when sometimes just the simplest action can make such a difference to someone.”

Alliance members are working to establish focal points in the community where help can be found, such as Summervale Medical Centre, which has offered to be a lost property centre, or Sweet Surprise, which will act as a point of contact for anyone becoming confused or or disoriented in the town.

For more details of how you can help or to sign up to the Ilminster Dementia Action Alliance contact Claire on 01460 52760 or claire@hazelwell.co.uk.