Health Minister to address leading Welsh dementia conference

Health Minister Mark Drakeford will address over two hundred delegates, including key health and social care professionals from across Wales, at Alzheimer’s Society’s annual Welsh conference.

The conference will highlight the importance of creating dementia-supportive communities in Wales.This programme of work aims to challenge stigma and support people with the condition to continue living independently in their community for as long as possible.

A dementia-supportive community is a city, town or village where people with dementia are understood, respected, supported, and confident they can contribute to community life.

Today’s conference follows the publication of Alzheimer’s Society’s report ‘Building dementia-friendly communities: A priority for everyone’ that revealed one in three people with dementia only get out once a week and one in 10 only manage this once a month*. The report also highlighted the lack of confidence people with dementia have in their communities. Almost half (44 per cent)* of people with dementia said they felt like a burden and so avoided participating in and contributing to local life. 

Health Minister Mark Drakeford said:’I am heartened by the work of Alzheimer’s Society to build a more empathetic and compassionate Wales. We must encourage activity that will help others better understand the impact a diagnosis of dementia can make.

‘Changes in the delivery of mental health services have made treatment at home and in the community possible but we have to recognise that those with a diagnosis will often experience difficulties in undertaking tasks many of us take for granted. 

‘We envision a Wales where those who find themselves momentarily confused, distressed or in need of help, will get that help. This encapsulates the notion of dementia supportive communities, a Wales in which the stranger reaches out and offers a helping hand.’

The conference includes presentations from a number of key individuals about work being undertaken to build dementia-supportive communities across Wales. Delegates will hear from Dr Bernadette Fuge, Chair of the National Dementia Network; Antonia John from RNIB speaking about dementia and the environment; Clare Walters speaking about Dignified Care at the Royal Gwent Hospital and Simon Hatch from Carer’s Trust. Over 44,500† people in Wales are estimated to be living with dementia, and this is predicted to rise to almost 56,000 by 2021†.

Sue Phelps, Director of Alzheimer’s Society in Wales, said: ‘Dementia is the biggest health crisis facing us today, with numbers of those with the condition set to treble worldwide. It’s shocking and saddening that so many people with dementia feel trapped and cut off from everyday local life. It’s a priority for us all to act now to make changes that will empower people with dementia and help them live well in their communities. 

‘We hope that building dementia-supportive communities will help tackle the stigma that still surrounds the condition. It will also ensure that people affected by dementia in Wales have the confidence to be part of their local community and live independently for longer.’

Alzheimer’s Society in Wales is working in partnership with organisations including Welsh Government and the Older People’s Commissioner to support the creation of dementia-supportive communities.

† Alzheimer’s Society (2012) Mapping the Dementia Gap