New dementia help strategy drawn up
Health chiefs in Wolverhampton have updated their ‘dementia strategy’ for the next five years after a recent survey revealed there were more than 3,000 people living with the condition in the city.
And with figures are estimated to rise to more than 4,700 by 2035.
The council’s new Joint Dementia Strategy 2019-24 has been put together by a multi-agency group including representatives from the voluntary and community sector as well as the carers of people who are living with dementia.
It details how the council proposes to deliver its support strategy and the help available locally to people affected by dementia.
Councillor Linda Leach, the council’s cabinet member for adults, said: “The council’s previous strategy was developed in 2015 by a multi-agency partnership, and since then there has been significant progress in developing and delivering support to people affected by dementia, including families and carers.
“This includes Wolverhampton Dementia Action Alliance being recognised as ‘Dementia Friendly Community of the Year’ for 2018 by the Alzheimer’s Society.
“The updated document incorporates the work done by the council, NHS and Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) intentions.
“It includes not just commissioned services to support people with a dementia diagnosis, but wider public services to prevent dementia risk factors and promote community-based services to enable people affected by dementia to live well in their community,” she added.
According to the latest government statistics there are now 676,000 people with dementia living in England and this figure is set to grow. Dementia costs society an estimated £26 billion a year – more than cancer, heart disease or stroke.
A recent study estimated that by 2030, dementia will cost companies more than £3 billion, with the numbers of people who will have left employment to care for people with dementia set to rise from 50,000 in 2014 to 83,100 by 2030.
Approximately five per cent of citizens living with the condition in Wolverhampton are aged 65 or over, according to the council report.
Recommendations in the city’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) include connecting people to support services earlier, ensuring that Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups can access support, and the promotion of both prevention messages and existing support available.
“Both the strategy and the JSNA were put together after extensive consultation,” added Councillor Leach.
“This included a public and professionals survey completed last year, which included specific questions related to dementia support and the barriers people encounter. The JSNA also analysed local and national data sources.
“Reflecting both the local and national vision for transforming dementia care and support, the 2019 strategy seeks to develop proactive services and ensure good quality care and support that best meets the needs of people in Wolverhampton living with dementia, their families and carers.
“It follows a person-centred approach whilst recognising the opportunity to redesign services in a challenging climate with growing demand on resources,” she said.
A meeting of the council’s Cabinet will discuss the strategy next Wednesday.
