More information and education about how to help people living with dementia is to be made available in West Dunbartonshire after the council backed a call to become a dementia friendly community.
The number of individuals living with the condition in the local community sits at almost 1500.
During the most recent meeting of West Dunbartonshire council elected members agreed to mark Dementia Awareness Week which runs from May 29 until June 4 this year and to recognise the impact it has on the day to day lives of not only the individuals themselves, but also the lives of their families and friends.
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It comes after a motion from SNP leader councillor Karen Conaghan was unanimously approved by members.
It asked for more awareness and education to be made available about the illness and for information to be made available about the right support.
The motion read: “The council therefore agrees to raise awareness by using our social media channels to highlight the ways in which individuals living with dementia and their families can find support, and to communicate how we might all better support those living with dementia.
“The council recognises the positive links that have previously been made within our communities to assist those living with Dementia and agrees to work with partners to explore what more we can do and in particular the possibility of establishing a dementia friendly community here in West Dunbartonshire.”
A dementia-friendly community is a city, town or village where people with dementia are understood, respected and supported.
In a dementia-friendly community people will be aware of and understand dementia, so that people with condition can continue to live in the way they want to and in the community they choose.
Speaking about her motion, councillor Conaghan said: “Dementia I would say affects all of us as many of us will see a loved one suffer from this condition.
“Although it is most common in older people, it can affect people from their 40s, 50s or sadly even younger - it is not just a condition of old age.
“The amount of people in Scotland with dementia is over 90,000 so to put that in context - that is around the population size of West Dunbartonshire. It is easy to appreciate how widespread this collection of illnesses is.
“It is an umbrella term for a number of different conditions. People will be familiar with some including Alzheimer’s, Vascular Dementia and various others. It is only by educating ourselves that we can make a bit of a difference to the lives of those who have dementia and allow them to lead a life that actually is more fulfilling and is safer and more dignified.
“Those who look after a loved one with dementia can also find it very isolating and very difficult so the motion seeks to provide where they might fund support and the other avenues that are out there to support people who do have dementia.
“By bringing this before the council, I am seeking to raise awareness in general and support people. We do care and there is support there so the more widespread the message is, the easier it is for people living with dementia.”
Depute Labour leader Michelle McGinty agreed to support the motion as it would help the West Dunbartonshire Dementia Strategy Group, which has been operating since 2015, to continue its good work in supporting the community.
Cllr McGinty added: “I would like to put it into context within West Dunbartonshire the prevalence of people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias is estimated to be around 1450 people at any one time which is 1.6% of our local population.
“Dementia type diagnoses are the highest with people with learning disabilities, this includes 75% of people over the age 50 with Down Syndrome. Over 300 people per year in West Dunbartonshire are expected to be diagnosed with some type of dementia.
“That shows us how far and wide this issue is. The council has long standing support for the Dementia Friendly West Dunbartonshire initiative. This is a community led multi-agency supported initiative hosted by West Dunbartonshire community volunteers to improve the level of awareness of dementia within our local communities and increase the level of community support to those living with dementia across West Dunbartonshire.
“It has been operating since 2015 and offers free awareness sessions and information and supports our local residents, businesses and agencies.
“The West Dunbartonshire Dementia Strategy group is currently developing a dementia road map website which will be launched later in the summer.
“It will help raise public awareness for dementia and highlight ways for people to find assistance.
“We are doing a lot in West Dunbartonshire but the reason I welcome the motion is because we can’t stop there, we need to keep going and improving everything we do.”
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