Willie Cruickshank

Dementia Friendly Communties

Why and What?

Neighbours

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Local Shops

Bus

Supermarket

Café/pubs

Leisure

Library

GP Surgery

Church

Bank

Council

Overall

Always Usually

Does XXXX help to make the area a good place to live for people with dementia?

Carer

Person withDementia

KEY

2012

Of over 55s have feltLonely in the last month

Of people withDementia feel lonely

Of people with Dementia Living alone feel

lonely

People with dementia feel their biggest barriers To participating in their local area are:

Lack ofconfidence

Getting lost

Physical health

Worried about

becoming confused

Mobility difficulties

Not wanting to

be a burden

Lack of opportunity

Transport

69% 68% 60% 59% 59% 44% 33% 33%

69%Of people with dementia did not feel they could contribute to their community

However, when people thought they could, suggestions included

3%Helping out at

religious services

6%Sharing

skills

8%Volunteering

10%Socialising

Of survey respondents feel a part of their community

When asked what they have had to stop doing, people said:

28%Getting out

of the house

22%Exercise

16%Transport

23%Shopping

9%Have had to give up everything

When asked how often they left the house:

35% Go out

once a WEEKor less

10% Go out

once a MONTHor less

63% Of people with dementia do not wish to try new things in their community

To do it people with dementia want

35%More

care and support

Of which

14%Want more

activities

14%Better

transport

10%Improved

health

33%Of people think that shopsand local businesses would

benefit in areas wherepeople with dementia were

supported to be more involved in their local

community

74%Think supporting people toBe a part of the communityWould help reduce stigma

40%Think everyone has a role toplay to support people with dementia in their community

3%Think that people with

dementia don’t have anythingto offer their communities

47%Think that dementia-friendlyAreas would be nicer places

For everyone to live

The opportunity for change:

Source: YouGov

• Launched in March 2012 with 3 Champion Groups

1. Health and Care (Alistair)2. Improving Dementia Research3. Creating Dementia Friendly Communities

• Angela Rippon and Jeremy Hughes, Alzheimer’s Society Co-Chairs

The Prime Minister’sDementia Challenge

What are Dementia Friendly Communities?

“A dementia-friendly community is one in which people with dementia are empowered to have aspirations and feel confident, knowing they can contribute and participate in activities that are meaningful to them.”

• The Dementia Friendly Communities Champion Group has been working with the Alzheimer’s Society and the Dementia Action Alliance on a programme of work on these main issues:

– Getting evidence from people with dementia and carers about what would make it possible for them to live better in their community

– Creating a system of recognition

– Creating local Dementia Action Alliances

– Educating the public so that more people understand dementia

Make sure you have the right local structure in place to maintain a sustainable dementia friendly community

Identify a person or people to take responsibility for driving forward the work to support your community to become dementia friendly and ensure that individuals, organisations and businesses are meeting their stated commitments

Have a plan to raise awareness about dementia in key organisations and businesses within the community that support people with dementia

Develop a strong voice for people with dementia living in your communities. This will give your plan credibility and will make sure it focuses on areas people with dementia feel are most important

Raise the profile of your work to increase reach and awareness to different groups in the community Focus your plans on a number of key areas that have been identified locally

Have in place a plan or system to update the progress of your community after six months and one year

FOUNDATION CRITERIA

…..DevelopmentsAt the Alzheimer's Society Annual Conference, on 9 July, they will be launching the:

• Code of practice for the recognition of dementia friendly communities

and the • Local Government Association guidance for Dementia

Friendly Communities

• Geoff Moore is our East of England DFC lead Geoff.Moore@alzheimers.org.uk

Willie Cruickshank