New guide provides resources for developers of dementia friendly communities
Tuesday 15 May 2012
A new guide called “Developing Dementia Friendly Communities – Learning and Guidance for Local Authorities” is freely available online (see link below). This was produced by Innovations in Dementia, a community interest company in the UK.
The guide is the result of the company's effort to support the Sheffield and Hampshire councils with their work in developing dementia friendly communities. It is essentially a resource toolbox for local authorities and includes the following:
- Finding out what a dementia friendly community means to people with dementia and carers: guidelines for engaging people with dementia and carers.
- A toolkit to encourage participation of local businesses and their employees. This contains:
- Dementia awareness raising options for staff
- Help-pack for customer-facing staff
- Checklist for dementia friendly environments
- Thinking about a "Memory Aware" high street scheme
Innovations in Dementia works throughout the UK with people with dementia, partner organisations and professionals with the aim of developing and testing projects that will enhance the lives of people with dementia. The guide was part of the Ageing Well initiative and was published by the Local Government Association. This project was funded by the UK Department for Work and Pensions.