Sittingbourne Dementia Friendly Community Forum

The Sittingbourne Dementia Friendly community forum was initiated in August 2014, as part of the Wider Kent Dementia Friendly Communities project. The aim for the forum is for local professionals, carers, people with dementia and anyone with an interest in dementia to meet and discuss issues, share good practice and to work towards the forums agreed action plans to make the area dementia friendly. Membership is open to all, and all are encouraged to attend and become part of the joint work

Updated:
1 April 2016
Location:
South East
Sectors:
Arts, Care, Clinical Commissioning Group, Communication, Health, Faith Groups, Local Authorities, Voluntary Sector, Other, Housing Sector, Emergency Services Sector, Commissioners Sector
Local Alliances:
Kent Dementia Action Alliance, Swale Dementia Action Alliance

1. Action Plan

1. The National Dementia Declaration lists seven outcomes that the DAA are seeking to achieve for people with dementia and their carers. How would you describe your organisation’s role in delivering better outcomes for people with dementia and their carers?

The purpose of the Sittingbourne Dementia Friendly Community Forum is:

  • To engage with and listen to the views of the residents across the area.
  • To transform the quality of life of people with dementia and their carers through promoting the National Dementia Declaration
  • Increasing awareness and understanding of dementia by providing and promoting Dementia friends sessions
  • To encourage community support through engaging local businesses, professionals organisations and groups, making Sheppey a friendly community
  • Breaking down barriers and helping remove stigmatisation by working within the local community and schools.
  • to communicate with people with dementia and their carers/supporters by all advertising in the local media and posters in public buildings etc for those without access to a computer

Initially we will all be working towards a joint action plan looking at the following issues ...

Information Provision-   Easily accessible, and easy to understand in laymans terms and simple English, overlapping with communication in terms of sharing information so that 1 story need not be told so many times

Environment + provision….Shops, roads, signage accessibility , wheel chairs, dementia cafes etc

Keeping up the engagement of people living with dementia very important to keep working together

Sharing and publicising the 24 hr support number  people felt this was a resource that would have been beneficial had they known of it, so the group felt it should be promoted more

 Catalogue of services and what’s provided locally  

2. What are the challenges to delivering these outcomes from the perspective of your organisation?

Challenges will include:

  • Engaging local organisations and sharing the importance of dementia friendly communities
  • Making Dementia Relevant to various agencies
  • Time allocated for staff attendance at awareness sessions and at meetings
  • Keeping peoples interest

Member contacts

For more information contact 

Tracey Schneider

Tracey.Schneider@kent.gov.uk

07730 750906

Member website

www.dementiafriendlykent.org.uk

2. Actions

  • Communication and Awareness Event

    Overwhelmingly the group from our initial workshop considered communications to be a huge problem.

    From the Workshop people had found out a lot about services that were available that they were previously unaware of

    An information event was deemed to be needed. Which could start to address all the priorities decided upon…

    Status:
    Implementation

  • Sharing and publicising the 24 hr support number

    Across Kent we have a 24hr Dementia Helpline, which many of those at our initial meeting were unaware of. 

    As an action all members of the forum are looking to promote and share this number where ever possible, including on various websites and through posters 

    Status:
    Being implemented

  • Catalogue of services and what’s provided locally

    As previously mentioned communications is a huge issue, A catalogue of services was discussed and the group felt that work should be done to progress this for the local area.

    Work is being done to map the area and local services to provide clearer information of what is available locally 

    Status:
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