Alzheimer’s Research UK Responds To Katie Hopkins’ Comments On Dementia

TV personality Katie Hopkins has caused controversy after making a series of comments about dementia on Twitter. In one tweet, the TV personality said that people with dementia ‘should not be blocking beds’ in hospital.

Hilary Evans, Director of External Affairs at Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, said:
“Katie Hopkins should be ashamed at her comments. Views such as these reinforce misunderstanding of dementia and show just how much work there is still to do in changing harmful perceptions of the condition. People who have been diagnosed with dementia still face an unacceptable level of stigma and social isolation as a result of their condition, and we need much greater awareness about the reality of life with dementia.

“All too often dementia is talked about in negative terms, and we must challenge the feeling of hopelessness that surrounds the condition. Research has the power to defeat dementia and transform people’s lives, and better public understanding of dementia is vital to lift the stigma surrounding the condition.”