Stockport’s vision for dementia care launched

28th March 2017

Stockport has taken a huge step towards becoming a dementia friendly borough with the launch of a strategy aimed at achieving this goal.

In front of a packed audience of invited guests at Edgeley Park, Stockport CCG and Stockport Council launched the new Dementia Strategy, developed together with input from organisations involved in dementia care.

The strategy aims to build on the achievements made so far in dementia care including increasing the rate of diagnosis in Stockport from 40% to 74% in the last four years.

The strategy sets out the vision for 2020 and clearly identifies key achievements which will enable them to measure if the strategy has been successful.

The aim is to get the message across that a healthy lifestyle may prevent some types of dementia as well as ensuring that people with dementia get the help and support they need to live well with the disease.

It’s also been recognised that it’s important that the end stage of dementia is planned for and that the person and their loved ones are properly supported at this point.

Stockport’s Dementia Roadmap was also launched at the event. It’s an online directory of local, as well as, national resources relating to dementia care including information about drop-ins and activities available.

The CCG and council also promoted the Stockport Dementia Action Alliance at the launch event.

The Alliance encourages and support local communities to take practical action to improve the lives of people living with dementia.

It can involve things like changing the signage or layout of premises so that it is more easily understood by people with dementia and training staff so that they can give the right help when needed.

The CCG and council recently became leading members of the local alliance and now are encouraging other local organisations, businesses and schools to sign up.

To become a member of the alliance, organisations and community groups have to pledge to carry out at least three actions that will help make Stockport a good place for people with dementia to live.

Cllr Wendy Wild, Stockport Council’s Executive member for Adult Social Care said: “ I am delighted that Stockport’s Dementia Strategy  has been developed with the input of so many voluntary groups , carers and  those living with dementia . By working together we can truly make Stockport a dementia friendly borough.“

Stephen Clifford from EDUCATE said “As someone who has been diagnosed with dementia, I think it is great that our experiences and ideas have been listened to in shaping this vision.”