To be accompanied by a Presentation from Cecilia Ware, Integrated Community Network Manager

The Integrated Community Network Manager presented a report, the purpose of which, was to provide an update to the Town and Community Council Forum on the development of Dementia Friends, and how they support the development of Dementia Friendly Communities.

She explained that “Dementia Friends” and “Dementia Friendly Communities” were both initiatives created to improve the lives of people with a diagnosis of dementia, and to offer increased support to their families. Recommended through “the Prime Minister’s challenge” in 2012 and further supported by the Welsh Government and the Older Person’s Commissioner for Wales, the project aimed to create a community in which people with dementia are empowered to have high aspirations and feel confident, knowing that they can contribute and participate in activities that are meaningful to them.

The Llynfi 20 Project Group was established in 2013 to address the health inequality found in the Llynfi valley following a Health Equality Audit which showed that people in the Llynfi Valley have significantly poorer quality of health than other communities within Bridgend CBC.  One of the work streams for this project was to establish “Dementia Friendly Communities” to reduce isolation and improve the health of people with a diagnosis of dementia.

The Integrated Community Network Manager confirmed that the aim of the above initiative, was to make small differences in the way people with dementia are supported, so that they can remain independent and socially active in their communities for longer.

She proceeded by stating that work was ongoing with BAVO to arrange consultation sessions and gain the support of other key stakeholders to put supportive measures in place to help people suffering from dementia live in their home for longer.

Information sessions had been held she added, in order to increase the number of “Dementia Friends”, which would assist areas in turn, to become ‘Dementia Friendly Communities’.

The Integrated Community Network Manager explained, that following the project brief introduced by the Alzheimer’s Society, the Council was looking to apply to achieve status to become a Dementia Friendly community hopefully in due course, within a number of areas of the BCB, after achieving this firstly in Maesteg. There were 6 steps to be achieved to become recognised as this, and these were detailed in paragraph 4.3 of the report.

For the benefit of Members, she then played two short video’s on the subject of Dementia and how organisations, family and even members of the community including people working in retail establishments, could assist in playing a part in the support of people suffering with this debilitating illness.

A Member asked if there were local places throughout the community, and in particular in Maesteg, where people suffering with this illness could go and visit as a form of a social and at the same time, supportive outlet.

The Integrated Community Network Manager advised that there were Day Centre’s and a café in Maesteg, where people with dementia could visit. She added that it was very important that people with dementia remained out of statutory services for as long as possible, in order to maintain their independence.

A Member asked how other areas of the County Borough could adopt a similar project to that which was taking place in Maesteg, in order that an improvement in the support of dementia could be secured in other communities and towns within the County Borough.

The Integrated Community Network Manager confirmed that the way forward was through using associations of support, such as the Alzheimer’s Society, as well as other representatives within a community who would devote time and commitment to assisting in the support of the illness, often on a voluntary basis.

A Member agreed that a considerable amount of help could come from simple things such as public awareness, However, this only applied in the early stages of the illness. As the illness set-in and progressively became worse, then support became more of a financial issue, as individuals then required increased help either at home or in a residential care facility/hospital setting.

The Integrated Community Network Manager confirmed that support for individuals with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease in the UK came at an annual cost of £26 billion a year. This was why it was very important to develop Dementia Friendly Communities, as they required little or no financial implications, just different forms of quite simple support mechanisms being put in place. It was just a case of showing patience and committing time. Badges were issued to people with dementia in order that members of society could be made aware that they had this illness. There was a small cost to produce these, as well as leaflets that could be produced for any particular community or community based establishment.

A Member asked if there were any steps that Town/Community Councils could take to assist in supporting dementia.

The Integrated Community Network Manager advised that Town and Community Councils could sign-up to and attend Information sessions, and seek to become Dementia Friendly Communities. This session would take just 45 minutes to an hour to complete. She was a Dementia Champion, and there were others also that delivered these sessions throughout communities.

The Integrated Community Network Manager added that there was an area of the web site in respect of Alzheimer’s Disease that made reference to Dementia Friendly Communities that Members could look up and obtain more information upon. Also, further information could be obtained from herself as a lead Officer on dementia. The Alzheimer’s Society also have literature and video’s that could be downloaded, offering advice and information on this important subject.

The Head of Democratic Services stated that it would be useful if information in respect of the topic of discussion could also be made available on the BCBC Members Intranet.

The Chairperson concluded discussion on this by advising that it would be useful if Members could have a pre-Council Presentation on the subject of Dementia Friendly Communities.

RESOLVED:                        That the Town and Community Council Forum note the content of this report and the progress on developing Dementia Friendly Communities in the Llynfi Valley.