Every year, a dedicated week shines a light on the challenges faced by individuals living with dementia and those who care for them. Dementia Action Week (19-25 May) serves as an important opportunity to raise awareness, foster understanding, and inspire action.

For the Armed Forces community, the impact of dementia is a growing concern, demanding a focused and compassionate response. By 2028, we estimate that around 65,000 veterans will have developed dementia, underscoring the urgent need for innovative and person-centred approaches to care.

Dementia spaces for our residents, as well as popular Day Care and Lunch Club sessions at our Homes, serve as a great way of maintaining a link to the military. This is hugely important in supporting the sense of personal history and self-esteem for those we care for.

A lasting legacy

Thanks to the income we receive from gifts in Wills, we can offer incredible Homes and award-winning care to veterans, like Cynthia, and their partners living with dementia, as well as  developing our services to support those who choose to remain living in the community.

Cynthia made history in 1996, by becoming the RAF’s first female Air Commodore having joined in 1964 when she was just 19 and serving for more than 35 years. She has been living with dementia in one of our Homes since 2023.

This Dementia Action Week we’re delighted to offer supporters the opportunity to write or update their Will for free. All gifts, large or small, make a huge difference to veterans like Cynthia and we’re most grateful to everyone who chooses to support our work in this way.

For more information about our free Will-writing service click here, or feel free to contact our Legacy team at legacies@starandgarter.org.