Lichfield has been recognised for its work to become a safe and supportive city for those living with Dementia. It has been recognised by the charity Alzheimer’s Society as ‘Working to Become Dementia Friendly’ for 2021.

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 dementia can continue to live in the way they want to and in the community they choose. Thanks to a working group of volunteers representing many different organisations, Lichfield is now one of 400 recognised dementia-friendly communities across England and Wales.

Organisations such as Lichfield Library, Love To Move, MHA, Freedom Leisure, Lichfield Garrick, and many local churches have a played a part in creating communities where people with dementia feel active, engaged and valued. An invaluable group which has helped to make Lichfield a dementia-friendly community has been the local Memory Café, supported by Home Instead in partnership with churches together, which runs a weekly gathering where people can come together in a supporting friendly environment, with others that are in similar circumstances.

Pam is a local person living with Dementia:

“As a person living with dementia I am pleased to have the opportunity to access a great number of local services including the Memory Café run by Home Instead and Dementia day care twice a week provided by MHA. Lichfield Dementia Friendly Communities group is doing fantastic work to make Lichfield Dementia Friendly and make Lichfield a better place for people like me and I really appreciate that.” 

Dementia is a condition affecting an increasing number of people across the country, meaning movements like Dementia Friendly Communities are more and more important. According to the NHS At the end of June 2021 there were 1,770 people diagnosed with dementia in the South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsular CCG area, with many more who are currently undiagnosed. The Alzheimer’s Society estimates that by 2051, 2 million people across the country will be living with dementia if successful treatments or cures are not found.

Encouragingly, there are 3,703 people who have become Dementia Friends who are living or working in Lichfield city, which in part has happened because of the action taken by Lichfield Dementia-Friendly Community.

To find out more about how you can get involved and take action, you can find Lichfield Dementia-Friendly Community on Facebook. Everyone is welcome to join their monthly action meetings.

Photo credit: Lichfield Memory Cafe.