Changing attitudes in dementia care and the role of nurses.

Dementia care has been seen as a low priority, but with an estimated 700,000 people in the UK with dementia and an ageing population this is changing. The Alzheimer's Society will be holding events this week to raise awareness of dementia, sending a strong message to policy makers that dementia is a serious health issue. Nurses have also become active in fighting the old degenerative model of dementia and promoting the concept of person-centred care.