Local Council adopts policy on creating a Dementia-Friendly environment

Kennington Community Council is looking to residents for advice on what to put in its Action Plan to achieve change and make the area a dementia-friendly environment. 

 

The civil parish council for the northern section of Ashford has adopted a policy to make Kennington a supportive and friendly place for those who are living with dementia. It joins around a dozen local councils or community forums across Kent to take this step. 

 

It aims to work with local organisations and businesses to raise awareness make life better for people with dementia by changing the way people think, talk and act through encouraging people who live or work in Kennington to become Dementia Friends. It has set targets for this and for the number of businesses which gain and use the Kent Dementia Friendly symbol in all their communications with the public 

 

It will also encourage people with dementia and their family and carers to seek guidance and support. Government figures show that 800,000 people are living with dementia in the UK and this will increase to over 1 million by 2025. According to the Kent Dementia Action Alliance, there are over 27,000 diagnosed people living with dementia across Kent. Following the unanimous vote in the Council to adopt the policy, Chair Cllr Alan Cooper said that the policy would only be the first step. “To achieve change, we need an action plan covering specific goals and how to reach them. There are many in the local community who are or have been dealing with what it means to live with dementia and they can give us first hand advice on what will really make a difference.”