Christmas is a time to celebrate and come together with friends and family. You wouldn't think twice about complimenting your relatives' new hair or outfit, but what if you spotted a significant change in their behaviour or memory since you last saw them? Would you tell them?

Leading dementia charities report a 43% rise of calls to their support lines over December, saying Christmas is the ideal opportunity to spot symptoms of dementia as families spend time together. But as they prepare for the extra calls this year, and with research suggesting over 80,000 people have dementia in the North West, official figures are predicting cases will rise by the 30% in the next 15 years (with Lancashire having the highest number of sufferers today, although districts including Cheshire, Warrington and Cumbria will see cases rise by a staggering 50%)

But the problem could be worse, as figures estimate only 40% of cases are going diagnosed.

Caring for a family member with dementia can be isolating and many carers feel a sense of guilt if they seek outside help for support. Early support for someone living with dementia is crucial for both the sufferer and the family, and can save a lot of pain, typically if the first contact with a health professional is at a point of crisis.