Those with both dementia and sight loss 'need more attention'

More than two per cent of people over the age of 75 suffer from both dementia and sight loss, according to the Alzheimer's Society.

A conference is planned around the issue, which will bring together 100 professionals working in the area of dementia.

The event aims to improve awareness, policy and practise for those with dementia and sight loss as part of the Dementia and Sight Loss Interest Group (DASLIG) initiative.

Clive Evers, head of professional liaison at Alzheimer's Society, said that people who suffer from both conditions are not addressed properly due to a lack of knowledge in each field about the other.

Graham Doggett, who has dementia and problems with his vision, spoke of the everyday difficulty of his condition.

"If I go to the loo there's a good chance I'll go into the women's because of the stylised signs. There are so many mirrors I'll think there are lots of people in the room. But we've got a Radar key, which gives us access to disabled toilets so we can go into a simple situation like this and cope with it," he said.

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