More help for dementia sufferers and carers

More than 4,000 people in Kirklees are affected by dementia and the number is expected to increase by more than 50 per cent over the next 15 years.

Dementia is most common in older people but can affect adults of any age, and the new plan has been developed by Kirklees Council in partnership with the NHS.

Medical experts have stressed that dementia is not a natural part of the ageing process and it is not inevitable that all elderly people will suffer from it. For those who are diagnosed with dementia, there is support on hand to enable them to continue to live a good quality of life.

Kirklees Council and NHS Kirklees have agreed the strategy which is aimed at significant improvements in the quality of dementia care and greater understanding of the causes and consequences of the condition.

Kirklees Council's cabinet member for adult services, Coun Molly Walton, said: "We want people with dementia and their carers to be able to live life to the full.

"The strategy we have agreed will give people the confidence to seek help early and to know where to go for help and what services they can expect."

Kirklees Adult Services is recruiting two Admiral nurses who are specialists in supporting carers and families of sufferers. They will support carers to enable people with dementia to remain in their own home for as long as possible.

A joint event with health and social care colleagues will also be held to invite staff to sign up to be dementia champions to become expert leaders in their field and to act as mentors to other members of staff. They can then pass on knowledge and and encourage earlier diagnosis.

After successfully securing two years of funding from the Department of Health, a new dementia advisor pilot service is now launching in Kirklees to provide information and support to residents from South Asian communities.