Let's Talk About It: Marking World Alzheimer's Month

Every September, people across the UK and beyond mark World Alzheimer’s Month – a time to raise awareness, challenge stigma, and amplify voices.

This year, Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) is encouraging a simple, human act: ask about dementia and Alzheimer's – and do it openly, without fear or shame. Using the hashtags #AskAboutDementia and #AskAboutAlzheimers, ADI's call is to change perceptions by normalising asking questions and learning together, for the more than 55 million people living with dementia globally and the carers who stand beside them.

Why this matters? Asking isn't small talk. It's practical change. Questions unlock earlier help, challenge myths, shape better support, and make life feel less lonely. And as ADI's 2025 World Alzheimer Report turns the spotlight on rehabilitation, the message is clear: people can and should be supported to live as well as possible with dementia – and that starts with honest conversations.

Dementia is the UK’s biggest health challenge

(And our biggest conversation gap.) According to the Alzheimer's Research UK:

• Nearly 1 million people in the UK are living with dementia today, and that's estimated to reach 1.4 million by 2040.
  

• Dementia was the leading cause of death in England and Wales in 2023.

Behind these numbers are people – families, friends, communities – who often feel lost in a fog of uncertainty. That isn't just a health issue. It's a community issue, a justice issue, a human issue. And silence makes it worse. That's why this campaign matters.

What “ask about dementia” means in practice

Asking has the power to change care. Asking isn’t about a tick-box conversation. It’s about listening with intent and acting on what we hear.

At We Change Lives, that can sound like:

• “What makes you feel at home?” → Then we adapt someone’s space so it reflects who they are: a favourite chair, family photos, a particular scent or soundtrack.

  
  

• “What brings you joy?” → Daily activities shaped around those answers, whether that’s a short walk, a crossword with a cuppa, or planting something new in the garden.

  
  

• “What matters to you right now?” → Checking in, not just once, but every day, because needs and feelings shift.

  
  

• “Who’s in your corner?” → Asking families about their support, then connecting them to peer groups, benefits advice, and carer support.

  
  

• “What do you need to do your best work?” → Asking our teams too, so we can reflect, train, and grow together.

These might sound like small questions, but they have BIG impact. They lead to earlier help, safer communities, more dignity in care, and a stronger sense of belonging.

Spotlight on storytelling: Alzheimer's Society

Alzheimer’s Society has been making powerful strides in bringing real human experiences to the forefront.

• “I miss them while they're still here” – In late August, they spoke about the various forms of grief many feel even while their loved one is still here. It was a message that resonated deeply with families and carers who often struggled to put those feelings into words.

  
  

• And their recent pieces like Katrina and her mum's story and Steve's story highlight the realities of the day-to-day life with dementia, not just the moment of diagnosis.

  
  

• And with the Dementia Together podcast, they're creating another space where lived experience and expert advice can be heard on the go.

These conversations matter. They normalise the emotions families face and put human voices, not just statistics, at the heart of awareness.

Our take

At We Change Lives, support should never stop at “care”. It’s about identity, dignity and belonging – every day.

This September, let’s use #AskAboutDementia and #AskAboutAlzheimers not just as hashtags, but as a way of being with one another:

💜 Ask with openness.

💜 Listen with empathy.

💜 Act with purpose.

That’s how we change the conversation. And that’s how, together, we change lives.