MORE than 140 people gathered in Salisbury this week to hear a powerful and deeply personal call for better dementia care during Dementia Action Week.

Sir Al Aynsley-Green, of Salisbury, the UK’s only Professor of Compassion, delivered the keynote speech at an event hosted by charity Safer and Supportive Salisbury (SaSS).

The conference at Salisbury Methodist Church on Tuesday (May 19) brought together healthcare professionals, carers and people living with dementia.

But it was Sir Al’s account of caring for his wife Rosemary, who died from vascular dementia in 2022, that left a lasting impression.

“I’ve got the T-shirt,” he told the audience, speaking candidly about the realities families face after a dementia diagnosis.

He described navigating a fragmented system, with a lack of support, care planning and compassionate care homes, while also highlighting the pressures placed on families.

“Where are the commissioning bodies here today?” he asked. “Surely they should be hearing what we all feel is important for dementia care.”

Sir Al urged people to rethink what compassion means and described it simply as: “Putting yourselves in the shoes of others and doing something about it.”

Guest of honour Dame Sarah Troughton, Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, also spoke, sharing memories of her father living with dementia and how it revealed “a very warm and loving side” to him.

Attendees also heard from Alan, a former British Airways pilot living with dementia, who talked about how strong emotional memories from his flying career have remained with him.

Now a volunteer at Boscombe Down Aviation Museum, Alan encouraged others with dementia to remain active in society and embrace the “gifts” dementia can bring.

Nigel Jenner, representing Alzheimer’s Disease International, warned that dementia cases are rising rapidly worldwide.

He told delegates that every three seconds someone is diagnosed with dementia and urged communities to “hammer on the doors of power” to push the condition higher up the political agenda.

He also called for Salisbury Cathedral to be lit purple on World Alzheimer’s Day next September.

The day ended with workshops aimed at improving support and building stronger local networks for people living with dementia and their carers.