Summary
This Department of Health blog post draws attention to a recent report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation concerning developments in the creation of a dementia-friendly city in York, on the Dementia Without Walls programme. The report, published in early October, indicates a number of ways forward:
- Increasing awareness of dementia and changing attitudes can help to remove the stigma. People are then more able to talk about their experiences, engage more in society and ask for help.
- Training for people at all levels and in all sectors should be easy to access and well promoted. This enables people to understand what people with dementia need, and promotes better levels of service and care for people with dementia.
- York’s leisure, cultural and spiritual services aim to help people live rich, full lives after being re-designed to be more dementia friendly. Communications emphasising that people with dementia are welcome, are a good first step.
- Health and social care services need to adapt to ensure there is more support for people with dementia and long-term conditions living in the community. People with dementia could help in the planning of these service adaptations.
