New dementia service approved as cases set to rise

Plans include activities for people with dementia and day clubs to give carers a respite break

Plans for a new dementia service in York have been approved as the number of people with the condition is expected to rise.

City of York Council’s executive approved proposals for the Community Dementia Model which will include a helpline and activities for people with the condition and their families.

By 2030, 1,000 more people are expected to have dementia in York than at the start of the decade, according to council figures.

The council's executive member for health, wellbeing and adult social care, Lucy Steels-Walshaw, said the new service would help avoid rising costs and ease pressure on stretched services.

“This new service will deliver pre and post diagnosis support for dementia and their families," Ms Steels-Walshaw said.

“If it’s not commissioned we risk missing opportunities for early intervention, rising costs and increasing the risk for already stretched community services.”

The council’s executive approved contributing £140,000 per year to the cost of the service, which is set to be commissioned by the local NHS Integrated Care Board.

The Community Dementia Model will include plans for a helpline, cafes which would put on activities for people with the illness, and day clubs which would give carers a respite break.

Activities would also be organised for people with dementia and their carers to do together, such as singing for the brain.

Trainers would run sessions in communities to help people become more dementia-aware.

A report included figures from York’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment which predicted there would be 3,860 people in the city living with dementia in 2030 and 4,291 by 2040.

The 2040 total would be 47% higher than 2020’s figure of 2,927.

Dementia Support Advisers, which are currently funded by the council, would also form part of the service and Memory Support Advisers would be included, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Brain Health Cafes, providing weekly drop-in sessions for those concerned about memory loss and confusion to get help from staff and volunteers, are also proposed under the plans.

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