New strategy to tackle dementia in Lancashire

A new Dementia Friendly Lancashire strategy has outlined how the Lancashire County Council will work with other organisations to address dementia between 2018 and 2023.

With approximately 15,500 people living with dementia in Lancashire, the council projects that this figure will rise by as much as 27 per cent by 2026 due to population growth in the older age groups.

Therefore, the council has claimed that the strategy will reduce the prevalence of dementia in Lancashire and raise awareness of all types of dementia, helping to promote early diagnosis and increase diagnosis rates.

The plan also outlines how the county council will become a 'Dementia Friendly' organisation and continue to develop partnerships to address dementia.

Shaun Turner, cabinet member for health and well-being, said: "Dementia is already an important health issue and the ageing population means more and more people across Lancashire will live with the condition in the next few years. This new strategy is crucial in setting out how we will build on the good work we already do in Lancashire and we've consulted people living with dementia and their families to give them the opportunity to have their say on our plans.

"We want to raise awareness of dementia and encourage people to talk about it. Detecting dementia early can often lead to better support for people living with the condition and their families. This will help people access the treatment they need sooner to slow down progression of the condition so they can continue to live independently for as long as possible. The strategy will also ensure we can improve care for people who need more intensive support. It outlines how the county council will become a 'dementia friendly' organisation by ensuring our staff will have had dementia awareness training, its working carers policy will be reviewed and it will give people living with dementia and their families more opportunities to share their views about services they use."