DEMENTIA Friendly Tranent held its official launch as a charity last week by showing a hard-hitting film about the impact of the disease on families to its guests.
A packed audience, including councillors, carers and volunteers were joined by East Lothian MSP Iain Gray as they marked the charity's first steps, in the Loch Centre in the Tranent last week.
And many were moved by the short film,Darkness in the Afternoon, which portrayed the shocking impact of dementia on one couple.
The film tells the story of a young woman who fears for her safety and believes she is being threatened by an old man who is following her - in reality he is her husband and she is elderly.
A number of those attending the launch spoke of their own family experiences of living with a relative with dementia.
Maureen Allen, from the charity, said: "My own father has dementia and one of my greatest fears is going to visit him and discovering he no longer recognises me. It is a theme which is highlighted in the film we showed to great effect."
Mrs Allen said the charity had been set up to ensure families living in Tranent had the support needed as well as raising awareness about dementia and helping make the town more dementia friendly.
She said: "There is a great community spirit in Tranent and we want to educate people about dementia and build on that spirit to make Tranent a place which supports families living with dementia."
The charity plans to hold talks, visit schools and businesses and raise funds to provide respite to carers as well as hoping to provide equipment and support for people in their homes.
Fellow charity trustee, Robert McNeil, said it was a disease which affected everybody.
He said: "Dementia has an impact on everyone at some point in their lives and we all know families who have been affected. It is about getting everyone in the community involved.
"Respite for carers doesn't have to be anything big, it can be about arranging to take some older men with dementia, for example, to a football match, or providing support so a carer can go out.
"We hope the charity will be able to give that extra support to families as well as educating the community about how we can all do more to help and raise awareness."
Iain Gray, MSP, said dementia was one of the biggest issues facing families and communities with a huge increase expected over the next few years.
He said: "Pretty well every family has experience of this disease, I know that several branches of my own family are affected, and we are no different from anyone else. 
"The launch of the charity Dementia Friendly Tranent is an important development driven by local volunteers and aimed at helping to make Tranent a great place to live, visit and work if you have dementia or care about someone who does.
"I welcome this new charity and urge anyone in Tranent who shares its vision to get involved with its work.”