Dementia is on the increase, due to our increasing ageing population.

According to the Alzheimer’s Society there are more than 820,000 people living with dementia in the UK and the number is forecasted to rise.

Greater awareness has raised the profile of the condition and now communities throughout the region and their local ‘champions’ are participating in projects to create dementia-friendly places.

Yesterday saw a meeting of the Dementia Action Alliance, aimed at developing ‘dementia-friendly champions’ in Bradford.

And, published yesterday, Dementia-Friendly Yorkshire – First Steps On The Journey developed out of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s major programme Dementia Without Walls.

Programme manager, Philly Hare, says five years ago the concept of a dementia-friendly community was almost unheard of until Prime Minister David Cameron launched his Challenge in March 2012. There are now more than 50 communities across the UK on the way to becoming dementia-friendly.

Dementia-Friendly Yorkshire focuses on projects taking place in venues such as churches, mosques, shops, public services, cafes, museums and hospitals and features the ‘champions’ helping in its delivery.

Philly explains that profiling case studies developed from demand, with people telling them what was going on around the region and giving examples of dementia-friendly organisations.

“When you start explaining what a dementia-friendly community is all about, people get it very quickly and I think that is because all of us now have some personal connection,” she says.

“People across communities are starting to realise it is not just about better health and care services, but it is something all of us can contribute to.

“If you’re a shop assistant in a Co-op in Bradford, for example, you can play a role in helping to make people with dementia feel more comfortable and be a bit more patient with them. That’s the new thing about this – everybody is realising they have a role to play.”

Changing attitudes and inspiring others to get involved is another benefit.

“A lot of people with dementia have told us that people seem to focus on what they cannot do any more and that it is hard to remember things or find their way around, but people with dementia have found it is often not the symptoms which are the biggest difficulty for them, it is other people’s attitudes,” adds Philly.

“People put them in a box of not being able to do things, rather than continuing with their lives with a bit of support. It is a more positive and constructive attitude because many people live for many years with dementia.

“People can continue in their jobs for a certain length of time and continue in their roles within the family or as volunteers in the community and that is really the whole concept of dementia-friendly communities.”

Akhlaf Rauf, Bradford health and social care projects officer, is among the dementia-friendly champions in Bradford.

Akhlaf’s role is within The Meri Yaadain Project – Urdu for My Memories, supporting around 200 families with initiatives such as roadshows and reminiscence groups.

“Many South Asian languages have no word for dementia,” says Akhlaf.

“So when we talk to people about memories, if someone asks ‘Why am I losing my memories? Then we introduce the word ‘dementia’ – and what it means.”

“It doesn’t matter who you are, we are here to support you.”

Daren Parr, Council ward officer for Idle and Thackley, works closely with Bradford’s Health On The Streets team, Bradford Alzheimer’s Society, and community groups and churches, developing initiatives such as a Memory Club and walk-and-coffee sessions.

“We want to build on existing activities, making them more suitable for people with dementia. It’s about setting up things that are sustainable without much funding,” says Daren.

Elizabeth Milwain and Carol McNab run a dementia support group, offering educational sessions for carers and reminiscence groups for those with dementia, in the hall behind St Peter’s Church in Shipley.

“The challenge is to show what can be done so dementia becomes something people are not afraid of,” says Elizabeth, an adviser on dementia issues, for the Diocese of Bradford’s Disability Task Group.

“You’ve got to be realistic. Dementia can be difficult. But out of the confusion, you will connect. You just need to care about people as they are in that moment,” she adds.

For more about the Dementia Action Alliance, contact Cathy Henwood on (01274) 586008.