Thanks to funding from the Great Aycliffe and Middridge Partnership (GAMP), the Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP) has developed a new project, Town of Our Times, which aims to help Newton Aycliffe become a Dementia Friendly Community.
A Dementia Friendly Community is a town where people living with Dementia are understood, respected and supported. Current statistics show that 47% of people living with Dementia feel a part of their community and 28% said they have given up going out of the house. (Source: Alzheimer’s Society, 2013)
Carol Gaskarth, PCP Chief Executive, said, “Learning to appreciate things from the perspective of a person living with Dementia completely opened my eyes to how the Pioneering Care Centre needed to change to be more inclusive. As a charity who focuses on health and wellbeing, it is important that we do all we can to make our services accessible and simple steps can make a huge difference!
“Through the Town of Our Times project we aim to support others to think about what they can do on a very practical level to raise awareness of Dementia and support people to continue to feel part of their community.”
To become a Dementia friendly organisation can be relatively straightforward and take less time than you might think. It involves a short training course for staff or volunteers to become a ‘Dementia Friend’ and considering accessibility; this could include simple changes to signage or providing a quiet space.
Whether you’re a shop, community centre, working in a small unit on the Business Park or a large employer we are here to support you. If you would like help, support and advice to become a Dementia Friendly organisation please contact Jane Cunningham 01325 321234, email jane.cunningham@pcp.uk.net
