Dementia Awareness in Reading this September
Marking World Alzheimer’s Month 2025 in Reading with stories, support, and community action.
What Happens When We Truly Ask About Dementia? How Reading Is Marking World Alzheimer’s Month 2025
How Home Instead Reading Is Marking World Alzheimer’s Month 2025
Every September, the world turns its attention to dementia, but here in Reading, we’re doing more than raising awareness. At Home Instead Reading, we’re sharing stories, attending local events, and encouraging open conversations throughout World Alzheimer’s Month 2025. This year, we’re proud to stand alongside our community and ask a powerful question: What happens when we truly ask about dementia? The answer lies in the stories of our Care Professionals and clients, in the small acts of compassion happening across our town, and in our commitment to making dementia care more visible, more personal, and more understood.
In this blog, we’ll explore how we’re supporting World Alzheimer’s Month here in Reading, from team-led initiatives and local stories to tips on getting involved and the importance of early, personalised support for those living with dementia.
World Alzheimer’s Month: A Global Message With Local Meaning
Led globally by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), and in the UK by organisations like Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia UK, and Alzheimer’s Research UK, World Alzheimer’s Month is more than just an awareness campaign. It’s a movement. A moment for all of us to stop, listen, and learn.This year’s theme invites everyone, from families to care professionals, to ask questions and share real stories. Whether you’re living with a diagnosis, caring for a loved one, or working in dementia care, your voice matters.At Home Instead Reading, we know how powerful those stories can be. Every day, our Care Professionals support clients living with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia. Many of our team members also care for family at home. Their insights, compassion and experience shape everything we do.
Raising Awareness: What We’re Doing in Reading
Throughout September, our team will be proudly supporting World Alzheimer’s Month in a number of ways:
- Wearing purple in the office to spark conversation.
- Sharing real experiences from our Care Professionals and clients (with permission).
- Highlighting facts and resources on our Facebook and blog.
- Displaying campaign posters and materials in our [Insert Office Location or Window Display Info].
- Supporting or attending local Memory Walks and awareness events.
We’d love to hear how our clients and their families are getting involved too. Whether it’s a social media post, a memory walk, or simply a conversation with someone new, every small action can help change how dementia is understood in our community.
Why This Month Matters, and Why 21 September Is Especially Important
Dementia is now recognised as one of the most significant health challenges in the UK, yet conversations around it often remain limited. Families tell us that it can take months, sometimes years, to access meaningful support after a diagnosis. Many families tell us they’re unsure where to begin or how to access the right support.That’s why World Alzheimer’s Day, held each year on 21 September, is such a powerful focal point. Globally, people come together for Memory Walks, fundraising efforts and educational workshops. In 2025, ADI’s World Alzheimer Report is focusing on an area that deserves more attention: rehabilitation after diagnosis.The report explores how tailored therapy, assistive technology, and person-centred support can help people live with more dignity and independence. These are principles we already put into practice here in Reading.
What Dementia Care Looks Like in Reading
At Home Instead Reading, our approach to dementia care is individualised, respectful, and deeply personal. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all routines. Instead, we create care plans shaped around each person’s history, preferences and abilities.
We use proven techniques, including:
- Life story work: building care around someone’s past interests and identity.
- Reminiscence activities: using music, photos, and conversation to connect.
- Sensory experiences: like gardening, touching herbs or folding towels.
- Creative expression: such as simple crafts, puzzles or music therapy.
- Predictable routines: offering comfort through familiar tasks.
Young Onset Dementia: A Different Challenge, A Shared Commitment
We’re also raising awareness of young onset dementia, which affects people under 65 and is often missed or misunderstood. The support needs here can be very different, from employment guidance to age-appropriate activities.We’re proud to follow the work of advocates like Gail, diagnosed in her fifties, who are pushing for earlier diagnosis and tailored services. If you or someone you know is facing a similar situation, our team can help connect you to the right support.
Get Involved in Reading This September
You don’t need to have a personal connection to dementia to make a difference. Here are a few ways to take action:
Join a Memory Walk
Support Alzheimer’s Society and honour loved ones. We’ll be sharing details of any Reading-based walks we’re attending or promoting.
Share Your Story
Whether you’re a carer, grandchild, neighbour or friend, stories break down stigma. We’ll be posting reflections from our team and welcome yours too.
Support Dementia Charities
Consider donating to Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia UK, or Alzheimer’s Research UK. Your donation helps fund helplines, research, and advice services.
Take Part in Research
Sign up to Join Dementia Research, a platform where anyone can contribute to scientific studies, even by simply answering surveys. It’s a powerful way to help shape the future of care.
Final Thoughts
World Alzheimer’s Month is not just about raising awareness. It’s about changing how we talk about dementia, and how we support the people living with it, every day.
At Home Instead Reading, we’re committed to delivering dignified, meaningful care that truly makes a difference. But we also know that care goes beyond tasks, it’s about relationships, identity, and belonging.
This September, we invite you to ask more, listen more, and share more.
Together, let’s make dementia impossible to ignore, in Reading and beyond.
Need Support or Advice?
Whether you’re just beginning your journey or exploring care options in Reading after a diagnosis, we’re here to help.
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