New Dementia Strategy To Promote Wellbeing In West Sussex

A partnership between councils, health providers, and community and voluntary providers, has led to a new strategy for improving health and wellbeing for those with dementia in West Sussex.

The joint dementia strategy has been developed by West Sussex County Council, NHS West Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), District and Borough Councils.

More importantly it also includes direct input from people living with dementia and their carers.

Approximately 16,650 people are currently living with dementia in West Sussex. This is predicted to rise by nearly 35% in 10 years, to 22,450 by 2030.

The three-year strategy outlines how services across the county will support those who develop dementia so that they can maintain their independence and enjoy a good quality of life for as long as possible.

A new Dementia Partnership Group, comprising statutory, voluntary and community sector organisations, will also be formed.

This group will work together to ensure that people living with dementia, together with their family and friend carers, have a good experience of living with dementia in West Sussex.

Amanda Jupp, Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, said:

"We have an ageing population in West Sussex and the number of people living with dementia is expected to increase significantly in the future.

"We have already made positive strides forward through our previous strategy, which increased the rate of diagnosis and improved the offer of support for those living with dementia and their families and carers.

"This new strategy now has a much wider focus than just on those living with dementia. It will aim to encourage businesses and services to become more dementia friendly, therefore building a community where people feel more confident and able to participate without stigma or anxiety."

The five goals of the Joint Dementia Strategy are based on the Dementia Well Pathway:

• Preventing Well - minimising the risk of dementia.
• Diagnosing Well - giving timely and accurate diagnosis, care plan and review within the first year.
• Supporting Well - providing safe and high-quality health and social care for people with dementia and carers.
• Living Well - enabling people to live well in safe and accepting communities.
• Dying Well - helping people to die with dignity in the place of their choosing.

The new Joint Dementia Strategy is available on the Council's Ageing Well website, where you can also find out more about the help available through local charities and support groups.