Dementia is an illness which affects how the brain functions. Its symptoms include memory loss, confusion and problems with speech and understanding. One in 50 people aged between 65-70 have some form of dementia compared with one in 5 people over the age of 80. There is no cure for dementia, but if diagnosed early enough, there is much that can improve the quality of a person’s life.

A National Dementia Strategy ‘Living Well with Dementia’ was published in 2009 which set out a five year strategy to develop better services for people with dementia and their carers. All local authorities were then required to design their own local strategies based on the national one and its outcomes.

The Strategy set out 3 key steps to improve the quality of life of people affected by dementia:

1. Ensure early diagnosis, treatment and support
2. Ensure better knowledge about dementia and remove its stigma
3. Develop services to meet needs better.

Locally, a partnership of NHS Halton and St Helens, 5 Boroughs Partnership and St Helens and Halton Councils has started developing a new care pathway for dementia care services via a steering group. Voluntary sector organisations including St. Helens and Halton LINks (Local Involvement Networks), Alzheimer’s Society and Age Concern Mid Mersey have been closely involved in this work.

In November 2010, two consultation events were held in St Helens and Halton to give people affected by dementia an opportunity to share their experiences and give their views on how services should be developed.

A report has now been produced giving an overview of the findings of the consultation events, the relevance of those findings to the 3 key steps above and the resulting recommendations.

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