Hampshire Council Pledges Dementia Support as Cases Soar
Hampshire County Council’s leader, Councillor Roy Perry, has vowed to boost support for people living with dementia, plus their families and carers.
Rising Dementia Numbers Demand Action
Following talks with Amber Reed, Operations Manager at the Alzheimer’s Society for Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Channel Islands, Perry stressed the urgency.
“More than 20,000 people in Hampshire have dementia, and this could double by 2030,” Perry said. “Our ambition is to help every person with dementia live well.”
The Council is teaming up with the Alzheimer’s Society and others to tailor services that meet local needs and highlight what people with dementia can still offer their communities.
Tech and Training Drive Independence
Over 500 residents are benefiting from assistive technology, provided through telecare partner Argenti, helping them live independently at home longer. Demand is climbing every month.
The Council is also rolling out a Dementia Pathway project encouraging early-diagnosed patients to trial telecare services.
Country parks are getting a dementia-friendly makeover too. Staff have had dementia awareness training, improving access, signage, and visitor experience so sufferers can enjoy outdoor activities and socialising.
Building Dementia-Friendly Communities
Between 2013 and 2015, the Council led the Dementia Friendly Hampshire programme, creating dementia-friendly high streets where local shops trained staff to better support sufferers.
They also founded the Hampshire Dementia Action Alliance, now boasting over 450 members, one of the largest in the UK. Local businesses pledge to improve life quality for people with dementia and their carers.
The programme’s funding model encourages local communities to take ownership, ensuring the initiative continues to thrive on its own.
