A new initiative has been launched to make Greater Manchester more dementia-friendly.
Dementia United – a partnership between Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Alzheimer’s Society and Greater Manchester’s health and social care devolution team– will look at new ways to improve the lives of people living with the condition.
It is estimated there will be 22,000 people with dementia in the area by 2020. The intention is to take a collaborative approach that involves charities, emergency services and a range of other organisations.
Early proposals include a single governance model to reflect local and regional needs for people with dementia and a commissioning framework that helps to address variation in services.
Dementia United will also pilot the use of case workers to support people with dementia and their families.
Lord Peter Smith, health lead for Greater Manchester Combined Authority, said: ‘Across Greater Manchester a number of voluntary groups work alongside professionals to help cope with dementia. Dementia United will allow partner organisations to work together to harness the potential that already exists when public services, health and social care teams, and communities to deliver an ambitious set of goals like these.’
Sir David Dalton, chief executive of Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, described the initiative as ‘incredibly ambitious, seeking to change the commissioning of services and provision of care while also testing new care models’.
He added: ‘It will support people to live, full, active and meaningful lives. To do this we believe that we will need to change everything, from the transport systems, emergency services, shops and workplaces, and health and social care. Dementia United and Greater Manchester Devolution will help us achieve this.’
