Published: Thursday, 15th May 2025
The city council is working with partners and dementia support services across Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire to support this year’s Dementia Action Week 2025.
The campaign, which runs from 19th to 25th May - and is led by the Alzheimer’s Society - aims to raise awareness of dementia and of the importance of a timely and accurate diagnosis for people affected by it.
Diagnosis is vital in providing people access to the care, treatment and support they need. Yet only one in three people living with dementia have a diagnosis.
However, more than nine in 10 people affected by dementia say that there are benefits to getting a diagnosis.
How dementia differs from the normal ageing process
People often forget things more and notice some changes in mental abilities as they get older. Though these changes can be frustrating, they are a natural part of ageing. However, Dementia is not a normal part of getting older.
Dementia is a group of symptoms. It’s caused by different diseases that damage the brain. For a health professional to diagnose dementia, a person's symptoms must be significantly impacting on their daily life. This means having difficulties with completing daily tasks about the house, in the community or at work.
In February 2025, 3,081 people were recorded as being diagnosed with dementia in Stoke-on-Trent. Women have a higher risk of developing dementia during their lifetime.
Recognising the signs of dementia and getting a diagnosis is really important to enable those people living with dementia, their families and carers to access the vital support they need.
The Alzheimer’s Society has an online checklist for possible dementia symptoms here; Checklist for Dementia Symptoms
Anyone worried that they, or a loved one, may be experiencing signs of dementia can use this checklist to help describe the symptoms to a GP or other health professionals.
To help anyone wanting to find out more, a free dementia services showcase drop-in event is taking place during the week.
It is taking place on Wednesday 21st May, between 10am and 3pm, at Affinity Staffordshire Shopping Centre (previously known as Freeport) Talke Retail Park, Pit Lane, Talke Pits. ST7 1XD.
Local dementia support services will be available at Affinity Staffordshire Shopping Centre to showcase some of the advice and support available to people living with dementia, their families and carers. This event is one of the local initiatives, coordinated on behalf of the Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire Dementia Steering Group, to support Dementia Action Week 2025
Exhibitors on the day with include:
- Alzheimers Society
- The Memory Clinic - Community Mental Health Team
- Dougie Mac Approach Dementia Service
- Beth Johnson Foundation
- North Staffs Carers
- Potteries Helping Hand Dementia Group
- Asist Advocacy
- Royal Voluntary Service
- Healthwatch
- Alzheimers Research UK
- NSCHT, NHS, ARRS, HIPC
- Healthwatch
- MPFT Social Workers
- Stoke-on-Trent City Council
- Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board
- Staffordshire Fire and Rescue
Councillor Duncan Walker - cabinet member for adult services at Stoke-on-Trent City Council – said: “We are very keen to support this vital campaign and raise awareness of the need for a timely and accurate Dementia diagnosis.
“The dementia showcase on Wednesday, 21st May is an excellent way to find out more if you have concerns or want to access a wide-range of services that can support you – I would encourage anyone looking for that kind of advice to go along.”
In addition, The Stoke-on-Trent Council City Council and Integrated Care Board Joint Dementia Strategy 2025–2029 is scheduled to be presented to cabinet for approval in June, ahead of its official launch, which will be accessible here: Stoke on Trent Dementia Strategy.
More information on activities and services available to people with dementia and their families and carers in Stoke on Trent can be found at, What support can I get for Dementia? and https://stokecommunitydirectory.co.uk/ search for ‘dementia’.
More information about Dementia Action Week can be found at
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-involved/dementia-action-week
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