This week is dementia awareness week in Scotland, culminating on Friday with Alzheimer Scotland's flagship annual conference in Edinburgh, where T C Young will be in attendance. There has also been additional press coverage in the last few weeks from politicians as they gear up for the General Election. Rather than kissing babies, it is the older generation who are being thrust into the spotlight as the various parties deliver their strategies for dealing with an aging population.

We pride ourselves on having a number of Dementia Friends amongst our staff, and we are always able to offer a friendly and professional approach when dealing with individuals living with dementia and their families. The Dementia Friends training is provided by Alzheimer Scotland and aims to give people a better understanding of dementia and the small things we can all do to make a positive difference to people living with dementia in our community.

This week is the ideal time to raise awareness about the fact that a diagnosis of dementia does not signal the end of someone's life. Dementia, in whichever form, should not be seen as a condition to suffer with, but rather to live with. At an early stage, getting an individual's legal affairs in order is certainly part of that process, and can avoid undue delays and distress in the future when the dementia may worsen. A will and a power of attorney can certainly be prepared for an individual who has been given a diagnosis of dementia. Where mental capacity is unclear, solicitors can work in conjunction with medical professionals to ensure that an individual understands the process and is able to give instructions and make an informed decision about having such documents completed.

With an estimated 90,000 living with dementia in Scotland (including over 3,000 who are under the age of 65), it is likely that many people will know someone who is dealing with this condition. At TC Young, we hope that our friendly approach can assist clients and their families when faced with dealing with a dementia diagnosis, particularly as this year's focus for dementia awareness week is friendship.