Record high number of calls made to dementia support line

A RECORD high of almost 5,000 callers contacted the Alzheimer's Society's dementia support line over the festive season.

- AINE FOX

Calls were up 16% from 4,279 in December 2024 to 4,973 last month. The latest figure is the highest since the helpline was set up in 2019.

According to the NHS, it is estimated there are 850,000 people across the UK with dementia and the Alzheimer's Society said one in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime.

While callers contacted the helpline for different reasons including fundraising (6%) and emotional support (3%), the most-mentioned topic was social care (19%), the charity said.

The data comes as the charity launched its dementia run club - which aims to fundraise to keep the support line running.