A TAUNTON receptionist says signing up to a dementia awareness campaign will help her recognise when visitors need extra support.

Valerie Course, who works for NHS Property Services at South West House, on Blackbrook Business Park, is one of more than 875,000 dementia friends nationwide.

Led by the Alzheimer’s Society and Public Health England, the dementia friends campaign has been boosted by TV coverage and support from the Health Secretary and the Prime Minister, who are both dementia friends.

The number of people with dementia continues to rise every year, including many in the early stages of the disease who are still able to live active lives, but who have symptoms that can make aspects of daily life more difficult.

The initiative aims to build awareness of how dementia can affect sufferers and the things that those around them can do to make life easier for them.

Many NHS Property Services staff have registered as dementia friends and are using the knowledge they have gained both in and outside work.

Valerie said: “Knowing more about dementia will help me in my personal and professional life.

“I know people who have dementia and if someone with dementia comes to reception I will now be able to recognise the signs and offer them the help they need.”