New action plan will fight the stigma surrounding dementia

PEOPLE with dementia need to feel “understood, engaged, included and valued” in their communities in a bid to reduce the stigma around the condition.

That is according to the Welsh Government’s new three-year dementia “action plan” to promote the rights, dignity and autonomy of people with the condition.

The plan calls for dementia patients to receive timely diagnoses and live as independently as possible in their home and communities.

It also supports plans to increase the number of support workers and strengthen collaborative working between social care and housing in a bid to further support dementia patients at home.

The report, and an additional £10m a year investment in dementia care from 2018-19, was unveiled at Ysbyty George Thomas in Treorchy, Rhondda, by Health Secretary Vaughan Gething.

Hospital staff are currently liaising with families to try to find alternative places for its existing dementia patients as it reduces inpatients in favour of community-based care.

Mr Gething said Wales needs to reduce the “stigma” attached to the disease which has been described as “the 21st century’s biggest killer”.

He said: “I have a clear vision for Wales to be a dementia-friendly nation that recognises the rights of people with dementia to feel valued and live as independently as possible in their communities.

“This plan, developed with those who have lived with dementia and supported by an extra £10m a year, will accelerate achieving that vision.

“I have seen some excellent examples of new ways of caring for people living with dementia in the community, like working with local schools and gardening projects.

“I want to see similar successful ideas rolled out across Wales and this plan will help achieve that.”

County director for Alzheimer’s Society Cymru, Sue Phelps, said: “For the 45,000 people affected by dementia in Wales and their families, the launch of Welsh Government’s Dementia Action Plan today is pivotal.

“We hope this initial three-year commitment through the Dementia Action Plan will bring about the changes that people with dementia have told us they need, such as; receiving a timely diagnosis and access to support services to enable people to live well with dementia.

“The real work starts now and the implementation of this plan at a national and local level is key to improving the experiences of people with dementia and their families.

“This will only work with the continued inclusion and engagement of people who live with the condition, and by building and strengthening our dementia-friendly nation, where we all play an active role and are united against dementia.”

Progress against delivery of the plan will be overseen by a Dementia Delivery Assurance Implementation Group, and will include people living with dementia and their carers and families.