BOLTON residents are being asked to join in the commitment to improving life for those with dementia as part of Dementia Awareness Week.

Bolton Council and health partners are appealing for various organisations, businesses, community groups and individuals to pledge their support to the Bolton Dementia Action Alliance (DAA).

The call for action follows a successful pilot in Horwich which saw the formation of the first dementia friendly community in Bolton, launched by Bolton Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Safeguarding and Adult Social Care, Cllr Asif Ibrahim.

In February, 40 businesses in Horwich – including Greenhalgh’s bakery, NatWest bank and Fine Yarns - pledged their support to become dementia friendly and 32 have already launched their plans, with the rest soon to follow.

In June last year, The Bolton News launched the Donate £1 for Dementia campaign which aims to raise £200,000 to make wards at the Royal Bolton Hospital more dementia-friendly.

Nationally, the number of people living with dementia is rising as more people live longer.

In Bolton the number of people aged 65 and over with dementia is expected to grow from 3,093 in 2015 to 4,203 in 2025.

Dr Wirin Bhatiani, chairman of NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "With more and more Bolton residents likely to develop dementia in the coming years it is vitally important that we think now about what additional support we can provide.

"This isn’t just about healthcare, it’s also a question of how we help people with the everyday challenges they face.

"The new Bolton Dementia Action Alliance will be a great asset for our borough. I look forward to the development of more dementia friendly communities in the coming years."

The council is looking at extending the scheme throughout the borough and has trained more than 150 staff members as dementia friends, including those at Bolton Market and in the borough’s libraries.

Training involves practical changes aimed at enhancing the quality of life experienced by people with dementia and their carers, and ultimately reduce the rising cost of treating the condition.

For more information on how to join the Bolton Dementia Action Alliance and relevant contacts, visit www.dementiaaction.org.uk or contact Munisha.savania@bolton.gov.uk.