4 Some Ways to Understand a Dementia Friendly Community [Update 5 - 05.12.13]

The concept of community is various! In many posts on this blog it is a settlement - village, town or city. In other posts the term community means an organisation or even an industry. Could I suggest that a family might be a "community" which is or is capable of becoming dementia friendly?

A dementia friendly community is one where all are pulling together for those living with dementia in their midst. Any initiative for a dementia friendly community (DFC) is likely to be underpinned by the following vision:

1. Those living, working or visiting a village or town will have awareness of dementia or will be able to readily obtain information and guidance about dementia - so gradually developing for themselves a good knowledge of the needs of those living with dementia - and so be able help them, particularly in shops, offices and service facilities.
2. Those living in the community who have memory problems are encouraged to visit their doctor or a local memory clinic for assessment, diagnosis and treatment, if necessary.
3. Those living with dementia in the community will have in time the support of a local team of health and social care professionals offering easily accessed, well-defined and integrated services for early assessment, diagnosis and treatment which is GP-lead and supported by specialists. 
4. Where appropriate, the physical environment gradually changes by adaptation, improvement or development so that homes, shops and other buildings enable those with dementia experience good accessibility, and safety, and so enables them to live in their own homes for as long as possible.   
5. Finally, those with dementia, their carers, and their families will feel that they can live well in a supportive community which meets their concerns and needs for information and help at appropriate times.  [For KCC Library Services and dementia see Post 15.]    

In Post 8 (21.10.13) a more detailed vision of the way in which the community's businesses may respond to a DCF initiative are explored. An approach which is often adopted is to join a local Dementia Action Alliance (DAA)- it is commonly a community- or county-based group or county. A local DAA is registered with the National Dementia Action Alliance.