CARERS have welcomed a Government campaign to help people with dementia.

Dementia affects around 70,000 people in the South West. The Echo is appealing for a better deal for carers and those they care for, including sufferers of dementia, through our We Care campaign.

The Government says Living Well is designed to educate the public about dementia and demonstrate the simple things everyone can do to help people live well with dementia.

In a poll conducted by MORI on behalf of the Government, 32 per cent of those who responded said they were uncomfortable around people who had dementia.

Fifty-three per cent said they did not know enough about dementia to help someone who had it.

Eighty-one per cent agreed some people with dementia could still take part in normal activities.

David Light, 73, who lives in Bishopsteignton, near Newton Abbot, cares for his wife Pam, 75, who has dementia.

Mr Light, who co-wrote a handbook entitled The Dementia Carers' Pathway, with fellow Devon carer Jim Delves, said the Living Well campaign was welcome.

He said: "People do shy away from it. A lot of people don't understand what dementia is all about; until they come into contact with it, they don't know."

Mr Light added: "In the early stages of my wife's dementia, there was a lot of information out there, but it wasn't collated into one place.

"As a carer, you don't know where to turn for help."

Mr Light is also helping to set up "memory cafes" where carers of people with dementia can meet and socialise, including a cafe in Topsham on Tuesday, March 30.

Debbie Donnision, the Alzheimer's Society area manager for the South West, said: "People with dementia tell us that, once diagnosed, others begin to act differently or avoid them altogether.

"This has a huge impact on their lives, but we know that with the right support people can continue to enjoy a good quality of life.

"Alzheimer's Society has been delighted to support this first step to tackle the fear and misunderstanding that surrounds dementia.

"One in three people over 65 will develop dementia, so it is vital we all understand how to better support those living with the condition."

The Living Well campaign asks people to take a moment to find out more about dementia and provides ways to help someone living with the condition.

A copy of The Dementia Carers Pathway is available at www.repod.org.uk.