Signposts to possible ways for local authorities to become more
dementia friendly are given in this post. With an expected substantial growth in the numbers of those living with dementia, like France in the early 2000s, a national policy for England is evolved, albeit several years later.
Elements of these policies are likely to increase the work of local authorities. In particular the following:
- Dementia friendly communities - both settlements and organisations, even industries
- Dementia Friends and Dementia Friends Champions - residents, business owners, and employees are becoming one of a million “dementia friends”, including “dementia friends champions”.
Local authorities will need develop corporate strategy and objectives to meet the challenge of dementia. Awareness under the national initiatives will increase the rate of diagnoses for greater proportion of those living with dementia, eg from say, 50% to say 66%. If this happens what will the impact be on social care? Dementia friendly communities, dementia friends, carers, and others also induce a need for change.
Many
departments of local authorities are developing dementia-related policies, including:
community safety, highways, planning, public health, revenues, and social care.
Staff
induction, training and development opportunities are likely to become more dementia orientated
for many in England's local govermnet. They will include: elected members, officers, frontliners, eg meeters and greeters,
professionals in departments, and officers in systems which will be available to those with dementia, eg
revenues collection.
