By the end of the next decade, a million people will be living with dementia. By 2015, that figure is expected to soar to 1.7 million.

These are statistics you may have read before. We know more about dementia than we did a decade ago; no longer is it a condition associated with old age, only talked about in hushed tones behind closed doors.

One in three people over 65 will die of dementia – a number set to rise with our growing ageing population.

Increasing numbers of people are affected by the condition, as sufferers or relatives and carers.

According to the Alzheimer’s Society, 750,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half of which is Alzheimer’s disease.

Statistics have a habit of losing shock value the more you read them, and it’s easy to lose sight of the people behind them.

Those with dementia may struggle to remember, but they have had relationships, families, holidays, careers, joy, sadness and other experiences that shape our lives.

This week – Dementia Awareness Week – the Alzheimer’s Society is urging us to “remember the person”.

The idea is to take the fear out of dementia and improve both public and professional understanding of dementia, while highlighting the range of everyday issues affecting people with the condition, and their families.

Paul Smithson, support services manager for Alzheimer’s Society Bradford, says we should see the person with dementia as an individual rather than seeing their condition first.

“It is important to remember they are still a unique and valuable individual,” he says.

“With any long-term condition, people tend to see the illness first, and how it presents itself, rather than the person. Carers can become bogged down with practical issues and live day-by-day.

“During Dementia Awareness Week, we want people to focus on the individual and remember they are a person with the same feelings, needs and rights as us all, not merely someone with an illness.”

Paul says that, while people are aware of the words ‘dementia’ and ‘Alzheimer’s’, they tend to see it as the end, rather than the start of a journey.

“Dementia is a disease that affects the brain. Although there is no cure, there are things that can be done to make life easier for someone who has the condition, for their families and carers, to make life more manageable and enjoyable,” he says.

“If people want information, advice or just a chat about any concerns about dementia or memory problems, we hope they will come along to our Dementia Week events.”

The events are aimed at creating a greater understanding of dementia, and helping family members and carers access support and respite.

The society is presenting five steps we can take to help someone who has dementia live well with the condition.

“Firstly, treat them with dignity and respect,” says Paul. “Secondly, keep in touch and show that you care. We run a befriending service, funded by Bradford Council, which recruits volunteers to visit people with dementia.

“The third thing is to communicate clearly and listen well. Be positive, accepting and not judgmental. Next comes supporting the family, which is particularly important for those who have dementia younger. People who start with it in their 50s often still have growing families.

“Finally, find out more – the more you understand about dementia, the more you can support those who have the condition.”