The Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and partner agencies, Isle of Wight Council (including social care and public health) and Isle of Wight NHS Trust, have this week launched a public consultation on a strategy called ‘Living Well with Dementia on the Isle of Wight’
It is the aspiration of the My Life A Full Life Programme for the Island to become dementia friendly, allowing people to live well with dementia on the Isle of Wight. The aim is for the Isle of Wight to be a place where communities encourage people with dementia and their carers to seek help and feel supported to go about their daily lives safely and free from stigma; where people are empowered to have high aspirations and have the confidence to participate in meaningful activities; and a place where people and their carers receive high quality compassionate care, whether at home, in hospital, or in a care home.
The strategy is being monitored by the Dementia Steering Group which includes representatives from public sector organisations such as Hampshire Constabulary, and private sector organisations including Island residential homes, nursing homes and voluntary sector organisations, including representatives from the Dementia Alliance: Age UK, Alzheimer’s Society, Alzheimer Café, service users and carers.
Dr Michelle Legg, The Clinical Lead for Dementia on the Island said:
“Dementia is becoming the UK’s largest health and social care challenge. It is likely, at some point in our lifetime, it will impact us directly or through a family member or close friend. There are one thousand, seven hundred and seventy seven people living with dementia on the Isle of Wight that we know of, and due to our ageing population, this is predicted to increase by twenty three percent over the next ten years.
Diagnosis of Dementia is the gateway to making informed personal choices, providing access to a range of post diagnostic support and services, ensuring people live well with dementia and delaying the need for more intensive packages of care.
By raising awareness of dementia, ensuring people have a timely diagnosis and appropriate post diagnostic treatment and support and by creating dementia friendly communities on the Island we can support people to live well with dementia on the Isle of Wight.”
The ‘Living Well with Dementia on the Isle of Wight’ Strategy can be downloaded from the ‘Get Involved’ section of the Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) website https://www.isleofwightccg.nhs.uk/get-involved/public-consultations.htm
Comments on the strategy should be emailed to [email protected]or sent to Dementia Strategy, Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Building A, the APEX, St. Cross Business Park, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5XW by Tuesday 15th July 2014.
Alzheimer’s Society on the Isle of Wight are encouraging people who have concerns about dementia to stop bottling it up this Dementia Awareness Week. People are invited to attend one of a series of events that are taking place throughout the week to learn more about dementia and the charity.
The awareness raising events are being held on:
- 22nd May in the foyer of St Mary’s Hospital in Newport from 09:00-12midday
- 23rd May in the foyer of St Mary’s Hospital from 09:00- 12 midday
Alzheimer Cafés – Isle of Wight, are providing Dementia Awareness Reaching Communities (DARC) training on Friday 23rd May. This one day training course links with the work of the Island’s Dementia Alliance (Alzheimer Society, Age UK and Alzheimer Café) in developing Dementia Friendly Communities. Their vision for this course is to have citizens within communities who are aware of and able to helpfully respond to the needs of each other – including those people with dementia and who will engage with and include them in whatever ways are possible. For further details please visit their website www.alzheimercafeiow.org.uk or call 01983 220200 or email [email protected].
