Norfolk ‘leading the way’ to raise dementia care and awareness

Norfolk ‘leading the way’ to raise dementia care and awareness

Dozens of dignitaries gathered for the launch of a bid to make Norfolk the first dementia friendly county in the country and to join the growing Dementia Friends movement. Around 70 people from local charities, businesses, councils and the emergency services.

The Norfolk and Suffolk Dementia Alliance, with the help of charities such as The Alzheimer’s Society, Age UK Norfolk and Age UK Norwich, is setting up a network of 16 dementia hubs in Norfolk to ensure that everyone is within 15 miles of a support group or dementia cafe.

Norman Lamb, health minister and North Norfolk MP, said he was “proud” that the county was pioneering initiatives to meet the challenges of dementia.

“Our communities are unnecessarily challenging for people with dementia and it is so easy to change them and make communities better. If all public, private and third sector organisations work collaboratively and break down barriers, we have the chance to lead the way in Norfolk in making our whole rural community dementia friendly. The vision for [dementia] hubs so that we are never too far away from advice and support is fantastic,” he said.

Willie Cruickshank, of The Dementia Alliance, added there were a lot of exciting developments in dementia and it was important for people to think differently about dementia and what it must be like for someone with the condition.

Joyce Hopwood, chairman of Norwich Older Peoples Forum, added: “Let’s make Norfolk a beacon of kindness, understanding and helpfulness to those amongst us with dementia and what should be their highly valued carers. Let’s make this a facet of Norfolk which we can be rightly proud of.”

The Dementia Friends session was run by Sky Sports presenter Charlie Webster, who became a Dementia Champion, following her grandmother’s battle with dementia.