Luton Dementia Action Alliance
Reducing the risk of developing dementia
Join Dementia Research
LDAA news and events:
#DAW2021 Dementia Action Week 2021 online event: Friday 21st May: Community Celebration and Denim for Dementia Event via Zoom. Featuring special guest performers. Email Annlouise.Taylor@alzheimers.org.uk for details and invitations.
Luton Cupcake Event July 2020 : held online
Dementia Action Week 2020 #DAW2020 is being held on; 11th -17th May 2020 (Postponed due to Covid-19)
Dementia Champion Induction Day October 8th 2019: Hosted by Neville's Funeral Care: This was a training day to increase the number of Dementia Champions who are trained to deliver Dementia Friends information sessions across their organisations and to the public.
Dementia Action Week 20th - 26th May 2019
Tuesday 21st May 2019: Dementia Roadshow, St George's Square
Wednesday 22nd May 2019: Information day from 9.30 am with performances by one of one of LDAA member choirs 'Friends with Voices' at 2pm
Friday 24th May 2019: Virtual Dementia Tour(details below) for invited member Health Care Professionals, carers and service providers.
Our member organisations also had an array of events happening all over Luton to highlight Dementia Action Week.
The 2017 Luton Dementia Conference slides can be found in the link
Luton Dementia Conference 2016
Luton’s Dementia Roadshow: Tuesday 21st May 2019
The national Dementia Community Roadshow Bus was at St George’s Square 10am-4pm led by the LDAA and Alzheimer’s Society. The roadshow offered free advice to raise awareness of dementia, supporting people to go to their GP for an early diagnosis and accessing local support services. LDAA members promoted our dementia friendly communities initiative and engaged with the public also encouraging them to become Dementia Friends by booking on a session on the Dementia Friends website.
The theme this year for Dementia Action Week was inclusion. We were very fortunate to be joined at our events by people affected by dementia who chatted to the public to encouraging everyone in Luton to be part of its' dementia friendly community where anyone with the condition is understood, respected and supported, and made to feel confident they can contribute to community life.
Our Virtual Dementia Tour on Friday 24th May 2019 This event hosted by Beds Fire and Rescue gave an invaluable insight into what dementia feels like: An innovative tour, delivered by Essex-based provider ‘Training 2 Care’ has been hosted by the Luton Dementia Action Alliance. It is the only medically and scientifically proven method of giving people with a healthy brain an experience of what 'mid stage' dementia might be like. Luton has now hosted this hugely beneficial experience four times giving over 130 people including professionals and carers insight to what it is like living with dementia.
Yvonne Weldon who is the Dementia Nurse Specialist for Luton and Dunstable Hospital is now licensed to deliver the Virtual Dementia Tour to hospital trust staff.
Background
In Luton it is estimated that there are almost 1,600 individuals living with dementia, this is forecast to rise by 51% by 2025.
Luton’s Dementia Action Alliance is made up of a collection of stakeholders; police, fire and rescue, high street businesses, local authority, charities, care providers and health trust, faith groups, local associations and schools.
Aim
To transform the quality of life of people with dementia and their carers within Luton through the progression of a Luton Dementia Action Alliance, and continue to work towards becoming a ‘dementia friendly community’.
Objectives
- To develop a fully operational, fit for purpose and sustainable Luton Dementia Action Alliance that maintains Luton's status as a town recognised as 'working to become dementia-friendly'.
- Full user involvement in the development of the LDAA sustaining Luton as a dementia-friendly community
- Respectful and responsive businesses and services.
- Challenge stigma and build understanding.
- Accessible community activities.
- Practical support to enable engagement in community life.
- Ensure an early diagnosis.
- Community based solutions.
- Consistent and reliable travel options.
- Easy to navigate environments.
Secretariat
The Local Authority will continue to provide the administrative support for the core group, organising meetings, events and taking notes and are the first point of contact for any issues relating to the Luton Dementia Action Alliance.
Equality and Diversity
The Luton Dementia Action Alliance is committed to inclusion, equality and diversity in all of its activities. It will take positive steps to include people from all groups and communities who may be affected by dementia across all of its work.
Past Meeting Notes:
LDAA AGM Meeting Minutes 13 12 18
Other Resources
Other Luton Initiatives:
Luton Dementia Action Alliance has appointed via The Alzheimer’s Society, a part time post of Dementia Friendly Community Coordinator to support the LDAA and progress development.
Luton Central Libraries
“On 5th March Luton Libraries launched their new Reading Well Books on Prescription for Dementia scheme. This is part of a national scheme to support people living with dementia and those caring for them.
The scheme centres around a collection of books offering self-help advice and information, practical support and personal stories. The books have been recommended by health professionals and have been tried and tested by people with experience of dementia. The collections are available free of charge at libraries across the UK, as part of the national scheme.
The launch at Luton Central Library was open to families living with dementia, as well as health and social care professionals. It featured a talk from Kim Radford about dementia friendly communities, while Connie Sharp from the Alzheimer’s Society spoke about the services available to people. The launch finished with a vibrant musical demonstration from the group at Music 24, who offer music therapy for people living with dementia and their carers.”
Integrated Personal Commissioning demonstrator site
Luton has recently become an Integrated Personal Commissioning demonstrator site. It is a new initiative being piloted by NHS England to join up health and social care for those with high level, complex needs. It shifts power to the individuals who access health and social care, allowing them to shape the services around their needs instead of fitting around standard service provisions. The goals of the programme are to create a better quality of life for those with complex needs and their carers, prevention of crises that lead to unplanned hospital and institutional care and better integration and quality of care.
IPC will involve producing one care plan which covers all the health and social care needs of the individual and an optional integrated personal budget, where appropriate, to enable those needs to be met with the services of the patient’s choosing.
The programme will run for three years. The initial cohort in Luton will be those with dementia due to their needs often spanning across health and social care.
For more information https://www.lutonccg.nhs.uk/page/?id=3957
RemPods
Three of our day centres now have RemPods the pub, the living room and the shop. These are Pop-up Reminiscence Pods or RemPods, they help to change the quality of life for people with dementia, currently living in care. The Pods are literally pop up reminiscence rooms and work by turning any care space into a therapeutic & calming environment. No need for decoration. Simply pop-up or down, when needed.

Alliance Members
- Active Luton
- African Carribean Carers
- Age Concern Luton
- Alicia Nursing Home
- Alzheimer's Society Bedfordshire & Luton
- Argos – Luton Mall
- Arttrend
- BC & G Care Homes
- Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service
- Bedfordshire Local Pharmaceutical Committee (BedsLPC)
- Bedfordshire Police
- Boots - Luton
- Bramingham Park Medical Centre
- British Gymnastics Foundation
- Calverton Pharmacy
- Cambridgeshire Community Services
- Cardinal Newman School
- Care As YOU Like It Ltd
- Caremark Central Bedfordshire
- Carlisle Support Services
- Castletroy Residential Home
- Centrebus, Luton
- Citizen’s Advice Luton
- Collinson House Residential Care home
- Community Dental Services CIC
- Community Works 4U CIC
- East London Foundation Trust - MAS Luton
- East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust
- Edwardian Care home
- First Class Care Services UK
- Frame Den Ltd
- Gardenia & Marsh Farm Practice
- GenerixCare Luton
- Georgiana Care home
- GP Ministries
- Grant Palmer Ltd
- Healthwatch Luton
- Home Instead Senior Care Luton & Central Bedfordshire
- Horses Helping People
- Independent Project Management
- Jade Euro Med Ltd
- Keech Hospice Care
- Lansdowne Care Services Limited
- Larkside Practice
- Leagrave Surgery
- Liferoots
- London Luton Airport
- LT Properties
- Luton & Dunstable University Hospital
- Luton Adult Learning
- Luton Borough Council
- Luton Clinical Commissioning Group
- Luton Culture
- Luton Irish Forum (LIF)
- Luton Shopmobility
- Luton Town Football Club
- Meaningful Education Ltd cic
- Mulberry Court
- Music24
- Neville Funerals
- Pictons Solicitors
- POhWER Advocacy
- Post Office Ltd - Luton
- Quantum Care - Luton
- Relate Bedfordshire and Luton
- Roman Catholic Parish of The Holy Family and St John the Apostle
- SALTO Gymnastics Club
- South Beds Dial-a-Ride
- St. Anne's Care Home
- Stanbridge Interiors Limited
- Stopsley High School
- Stopsley Tent Project
- Stroke Association Luton
- The Ameina Centre
- The Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire Community Rehabilitation Company Limited (BENCH CRC)
- The Disability Resource Centre
- The Mall Shopping Centre – Luton
- TOKKO
- Total Legacy Care
- Victoriana Care home
- Waymayka ltd