Families urged to join Alzheimer’s Society Memory Walks as 43% say they don’t spend enough time together

By joining your local Memory Walk, you can help raise money for a world without dementia – as it’s revealed families spend dwindling time together.

New Alzheimer’s Society research launches Memory Walk today, revealing that almost half (41%) of British families only spend up to 5 hours a week of ‘quality time’ together, with (13%) of families spending just one hour or less a week together*. The Society is asking people to make that time count and join a Memory Walk – in partnership with HSBC.

Over 2 in 5 parents (43%) surveyed said that they didn’t feel they spent enough quality time with their immediate families, citing ‘modern life’ difficulties, including difficulty scheduling time when everyone is free (33%), watching TV separately (14%), using social media (10%), working long hours (16%) and carrying out household chores and admin (16%).

Encouragingly, over half (55%) of parents said they do enjoy taking part in exercise and outdoor activities, such as long walks and sports, with their families. 44% said they enjoy going on a family walk and 34% enjoy a family day out. 

However, 1 in 3 (32%) of people said they don’t feel they take part in exercise (long walk or group sport) often enough with their family, while 1 in 5 (19%) said they do not even manage a family walk once a year.

Dementia and exercise 

850,000 people in the UK have dementia. With this set to rise to over 1 million by 2021, we will all know someone who has or will be affected by the condition. Considerable research shows that taking regular exercise can help reduce the risk of getting dementia, and there is also evidence to show that exercising outside in a rural environment or green space is also highly beneficial for people’s mental health and overall wellbeing**.

Our survey findings backed this up, with 51% of people saying they prefer exercising in a green, outdoors environment than pounding the treadmill. 47% said they feel happier and 42% more energised and revitalised after an outdoor workout.

Whether you’re walking in memory of a loved one, to celebrate someone you know affected by dementia or to create memories with family and friends, people of all ages and abilities can sign up to Memory Walk to raise money to support people with dementia and find a cure.

Memory Walk supporters

Award-winning actress Vicky McClure, whose new period drama The Secret Agent will air on the BBC on 17 July, is taking part in Nottingham Memory Walk with her Mum, sister, nephew and family dogs.

Vicky said:

'My Nana, Iris, was diagnosed with dementia in 2013 and I soon began to see first-hand the difficulties many families go through when a loved one is diagnosed with this cruel condition. My Nana was such a stylish, confident and proud woman before the dementia took hold and it was heart breaking when she was unable to recognise me and my family. Nana Iris lost her battle with dementia in 2014.

'Memory Walk is such a worthwhile event and this year will be my sixth in a row. It’s a great opportunity to get together with your family, enjoy time walking together and remember loved ones – I would love to see everyone putting their best foot forward to support Alzheimer’s Society and all those affected by dementia.'

Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Society, said: 

'Modern life is having a huge impact on the time families spend together. Memory Walk is a great opportunity for all generations of every family to turn the tide and come together to walk for a world without dementia.

'We already know that what’s good for the heart is good for the head, and regular exercise is one of the best ways to help reduce your risk of developing dementia – all while enjoying a great day out in the fresh air with those you care about. The money you raise for Alzheimer’s Society will better support those living with dementia and help to find a cure.  Every person, every pound, every step will bring us closer.'

From the money raised, £650 would pay for a brain scan to help diagnosis, £100 would allow someone with dementia to attend ten Singing for the Brain® sessions, £20 would cover a month’s attendance at an Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Café.

Sisters Linda Metcalfe (26) and Jodie Wray (32) from Fulham, London are getting together with their family to walk for their nan, Chrystalleni Peratikos (91), who lives with dementia. 

Linda said:

'Myself, my sister and my mum are all walking again this year in honour of my beloved nan. She has always been there for us and has always been such a strong woman, since coming over to the UK from Cyprus many years ago to start up a restaurant with my Grandad.

'Dementia can strip away the person you are and my sister and I have found it so difficult because we haven't been able to tell Nan our achievements and we know how proud she'd be. I can only imagine how my mum feels. Our love is still very much there though and will always remain. We will joining together this autumn at Memory Walk as a family to walk for my nan and world without dementia.”

Vicky McClure is the latest celebrity to sign up for Memory Walk this year, which is also being supported by Arlene Phillips, Jamie Anderson and Sally Lindsay, with a whole host of other names still to be announced.

Memory Walks are taking place across England, Wales and Northern Ireland September–October and you can register to take part now. Find a Memory Walk near you at www.memorywalk.org.uk and sign up today to walk for a world without dementia.

* All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2195 adults, of which 1259 were parents. Fieldwork was undertaken between  24th – 27th June 2016.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).”

**Research published at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Washington in July 2015 – following three new trials of aerobic exercise in people with Alzheimer's disease, vascular cognitive impairment and mild cognitive impairment are all reported to have shown positive results. One trial showed that doing regular exercise helped people with Alzheimer's disease to better manage behaviours associated with the condition, such as anxiety or irritability. Another found that exercise may reduce levels of the protein tau, a key hallmark of some forms of dementia, in people with mild cognitive impairment. The third found that exercise could benefit people with vascular cognitive impairment and may even help to improve brain function. For more information on Alzheim