A dementia expert at the University of Bradford has praised the work being done to make the district a “good place to grow old.”

Professor Murna Downs, chairman of dementia studies at the university, said that Bradford is a “world-renowned place because of the work it has done on dementia.”

She spoke out after the Alzheimer Society released a study, last week, calling on commissioners to improve support for sufferers as it revealed that nearly two-thirds of 250,000 people with dementia who live on their own are lonely.

Prof Downs said: “It’s terrific to see such sustained national interest in improving the quality of life for people with dementia and their families.

“The report focuses both on what all of us, as members of our communities, can do to reach out to and ensure inclusion of people with dementia as well as keeping pressure on health and social care to address the needs of people with dementia and their family carers.

“We need to continue to exert political pressure to ensure that people with dementia and their family carers get suitable supports and services from diagnosis to death, complemented by informed and compassionate communities.”

“Bradford is becoming a very good place to grow old with dementia.”

The T&A has long championed dignity for older people through our With Respect campaign.

A number of initiatives are ongoing and are being introduced in the city to help make Bradford dementia-friendly.

Paul Smithson, of Bradford Alzheimer’s Society, said it is working hard in partnership with other organisations to improve the public’s understanding of dementia which will help sufferers of the disease.

He said: “We are aiming to make Bradford dementia-friendly. The initiative was launched last year by Prime Minister David Cameron in a bid to train a million people in England by 2015 to provide support for dementia sufferers. We are working in partnership with other organisations to achieve this. We are starting an exciting new Bradford Dementia Action Alliance which will be launched on June 26 at the University of Bradford.

“This group will meet with the public and local businesses and among many things it will discuss how they can make simple changes in the work place to help people suffering with dementia.”

Meanwhile, at Bradford University monthly support groups for members of staff who are caring for a person with dementia are held.

The university also holds quarterly public lectures giving people the up-to-date research and information.

Prof Downs, who is also working on a second book called ’Excellence in Dementia Care’ which is due to be published in May 2014, said: “Bradford has some of the best examples in the country of engaging communities in dementia-friendly initiatives, along with high quality hospital and residential care for people with dementia, as well as our own internationally leading academic centre for excellence at the university.”

Contact Cathy Henwood at Bradford Alzheimer’s Society on (01274) 586008 for more information.