A campaign to encourage people worried about their own or loved ones’ memory to seek support in getting a diagnosis has been backed Natasha Asghar MS.
The South East Wales Member of the Senedd has thrown her support behind the Alzheimer’s Society’s initiative as part of Dementia Action Week 2022.
A new survey of more than 1,000 people revealed 63% of people with dementia symptoms in Wales lived with the condition for more than a year after first noticing symptoms before getting a diagnosis with 10% waiting more than two years.
The survey, carried out by Alzheimer’s Society, also found that 42% of respondents assumed the symptoms were just part of getting old, leading to a delay in accessing treatment, care and support.
Natasha Asghar MS said:
“These latest figures unearthed by Alzheimer’s Society are shocking and I am honoured to throw my support behind the charity’s campaign encouraging people to seek support in getting a diagnosis.
“Help is out there, and getting a diagnosis is an important step as it gives people with dementia access to treatment, care and support.
“Asking the same question over and over again isn’t called getting old, it’s called getting ill. Nobody has to face dementia lone.”
MS yn cefnogi ymgyrch Cymdeithas Alzheimer’s wrth i Wythnos Ymwybyddiaeth o Ddementia ddechrau
Mae ymgyrch i annog pobl sy'n poeni am eu cof eu hunain neu gof eu hanwyliaid i geisio cymorth i gael diagnosis, wedi cael ei chefnogi Natasha Asghar AS.
Mae Aelod De-ddwyrain Cymru o'r Senedd wedi ymroi i gefnogi menter Cymdeithas Alzheimer’s fel rhan o Wythnos Gweithredu ar Ddementia 2022.
Dangosodd arolwg newydd o fwy na 1,000 o bobl fod 63% o bobl â symptomau dementia yng Nghymru wedi byw gyda'r cyflwr am fwy na blwyddyn ar ôl sylwi ar symptomau am y tro cyntaf cyn cael diagnosis, ac roedd 10% wedi aros dwy flynedd a mwy.
Canfu'r arolwg hefyd, a gynhaliwyd gan Gymdeithas Alzheimer’s, fod 42% o'r ymatebwyr yn tybio mai dim ond rhan o fynd yn hen oedd y symptomau, gan arwain at oedi cyn cael triniaeth, gofal a chymorth.
Meddai Natasha Asghar MS:
“Mae'r ffigurau diweddaraf hyn y mae Cymdeithas Alzheimer’s wedi'u datgelu yn frawychus ac mae'n anrhydedd i mi ymroi i gefnogi ymgyrch yr elusen gan annog pobl i geisio cymorth i gael diagnosis.
“Mae cymorth ar gael, ac mae cael diagnosis yn gam pwysig gan ei fod yn sicrhau y gall pobl sydd â dementia gael mynediad at driniaeth, gofal a chymorth.
“Dyw gofyn yr un cwestiwn drosodd a throsodd ddim yn golygu mynd yn hen, mae'n golygu mynd yn sâl. Does neb yn gorfod wynebu dementia ar ei ben ei hun.”
