WORCESTER City Council is set to join a national movement in a bid to improve the lives of people living with dementia across the city.
Dementia Action Alliance, an organisation which also works towards providing support for carers, will train all council staff to be more aware of the condition.
The council’s Bereavement Services and Planning teams have already received the training, which will help to ensure services are delivered with due consideration to the high percentage of local people living with dementia.
The organisation will also work with the University of Worcester and health, housing and social care professionals to investigate setting up a Dementia Friendly Dwelling grant, designed to allow people living with the condition to remain living independently in their own homes for as long as possible.
With approximately 1,131 people in Worcester and 8,636 people across the county being diagnosed as having dementia, these figures are expected to increase to 1,725 and 14,475 respectively by 2030.
Coun Lynn Denham, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Communities, said: “With the number of people living with dementia set to rise steeply over the next decade, it is essential that the City Council takes action now and adapt its services to meet the needs of people who have dementia and their carers.
“It is important our front line staff have an understanding of dementia and are able to respond appropriately.”
The City Council has also co-funded Suitcase Stories, a project launching on November 4 which will enable adults living with dementia and their carers in six Worcestershire locations to relive memories from the 40s, 50s and 60s using the art of storytelling.
As part of the programme run by ArtsUplift, participants each week will hold, touch, smell and feel the handling objects from Museums Worcestershire handling collection.
Their memories will be woven into a performance of storytelling and music, to be staged locally.
For more information on the Dementia Action Alliance, go to www.dementiaaction.org.uk
