Dementia
Our vision, aims, principles, and approach
Our vision
To create a borough which enables more adults to live longer, healthier and happier lives and is inclusive of people with dementia, and their carers so they can enjoy the best possible quality of life and remain independent for longer.
With the collaboration of partner organisations, across all sectors, and the community, we can work together to support our residents to live healthier lives to reduce the risk, or delay the onset of dementia, and for those living with dementia, and their carers to live well and have access to the support they need to live a fulfilled and more independent life.
Our aim
The aim of the Dementia Strategy is to set out our approach to achieve this vision and our principles and outcomes, and what we need to do to achieve this.
Wider determinants and health inequalities are a challenge for our borough and their impact on the prevention of dementia, and its early detection and intervention, and the provision of support services. It is important that we recognise the need to face these challenges at every life stage whether that is starting well, living well and ageing well.
We aim to set out a strategy that addresses a range of issues:
- Ensuring a collaborative approach with partner organisations, focusing on a boroughwide approach to preventing, and reducing the onset of dementia, and providing the right support for people living with dementia and their carers
- Providing a clear vision of the role dementia support services’ have in supporting dementia prevention, early intervention and support
- Providing a transparent and consistent approach to our delivery that involves and supports our residents and communities
- Ensuring that our delivery models are fit for purpose, and have a person centred-approach
- Ensuring support is in the right location, reducing over-provision and ensuring value for money
- Value and understand those living with dementia and their families and carers
Our principles
Ensuring our residents living with or affected by dementia are at the heart of our strategy to improve their health, wellbeing and social care outcomes.
Empowering our residents, those living with, or affected by dementia to develop and shape our strategy and voice the issues that are important to them, whether that is the support they require or what needs to be done to improve services.
Finding new ways of working that will serve people better. We will develop new models of support and service delivery through best practice, being creative and working across the health and social care system.
Striving to become a dementia inclusive borough we will commit to challenging attitudes, behaviours, and terminology whenever possible in our communities, workplaces, and public services. Promoting dementia friendly places and policies.
Supporting equity across the borough, ensuring our approach is all-inclusive and accessible, with the allocation of resources based on need.
Working together, providing multi-agency partnerships with those who have similar visions and outcomes to achieve the best for our residents, and those living with or affected by dementia.
Our approach
To support the delivery of the dementia strategy and to achieve our vision we have developed the following approach:
To reduce health inequalities and to tackle wider health determinants we need to ensure when delivering services to those living with dementia that we have the right resources in the right locations and target groups that need the most support.
We know that reducing the risk of dementia, or delaying the onset of dementia, is influenced by a wide range of modifiable risk factors. Supporting people to reduce risky behaviours such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet and physical inactivity will reduce their risk of dementia and support them in living longer, healthier and independent lives.
Dementia should not be seen as simply the symptoms a person exhibits, but must be seen in its widest context, taking into account the persons’ environment, the geography within which they live and the people who support them. Many of the challenges that need to be addressed rely on the combined efforts of a variety of organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors.
Decisions about services and programmes should be based upon the best available information and our strategy is based on our knowledge of local need. This ensures we make best use of resources, providing the best possible services and support.
We want to develop a borough that fosters independence and dignity and ensures people living with dementia are valued. It is equally important to emphasise the benefits - socially, mentally and physically - that a healthy lifestyle has on preventing or delaying the onset of dementia and enabling people with dementia to live well.
