1 Lift-off for Swanley as a Dementia Friendly Community [Update 2 - 28/11/13]

Lift off was on August 9th 2013 when residents, councillors, and representatives of about 20 organisations met to learn how Swanley (Kent) might become a more dementia friendly community (DFC). (For DCFs see Post 4.)

Following this lift-off a booster and .Second Community Meeting is planned for Thursday November 28th 2013.

At the heart of all this is the thoughts and needs of those living with dementia, their families and carers.

The Novemember meeting will focus on:

• the analysis of the survey responses
• future plans individual organisations have made
• ways of helping one another 
• potential partnerships
• any need for co-ordinating activities.

The First Community Meeting was conducted by Kent County Council SILK project manager who led several interactive sessions when concerns, resources and other features of a DFC were  identified and noted. Existing resources are substantial but not much is known about them. (For SILK see Post 7.)

The meeting agreed the need to carry out a series of surveys. When the responses to these are analysed a clearer knowledge of what needs to be achieved will be known.

Swanley is the third DCF in Knet after Northfleet and Westgate. (For Kent's DCFs see www.kentfriendlycommunities.co.uk