Alzheimer’s Society: Mayor of London pledges ‘dementia-friendly’ capital
Over one hundred delegates from across industries gathered at City Hall today to share their plans to bring the Mayor of London’s vision of a dementia-friendly capital to life.
Alzheimer’s Society held its first annual Dementia Friendly London Summit at the GLA on Monday 21 May, as part of Dementia Action Week (21 – 27 May 2018).
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who met with people living with dementia at the event, said:
“London is the greatest city in the world. However, for those Londoners living with dementia and their carers, we can do much more to make the capital a more welcoming and accessible place.
“To make a difference, and to become a dementia-friendly city, we all need to work together. Today’s summit demonstrates a collective commitment by the GLA, Alzheimer’s Society and many other bodies to create a truly dementia-friendly London.
“I’ve become a Dementia Friend alongside 150 other City Hall staff. Transport for London has integrated dementia awareness into its equalities training programme and will roll out Dementia Friends sessions across its entire workforce. And all Team London volunteers for the Euro 2020 championships will be Dementia Friends too.
“The sky’s the limit and we can all take action. We all have a role to play to ensure that people affected by dementia in London – no matter who they are or where they live – are able to live well with the condition and enjoy all our vibrant city has to offer.”
The Mayor of London signed a pledge at the summit which details what a dementia-friendly city means, following direct feedback from hundreds of people living with the condition in London.
People affected by dementia will:
• Travel to where they want to go safely
• Live somewhere they feel supported, understood and included in community life
• Receive the help they need to access quality health, care and support services when and where they require it
• Be able to participate in all that London has to offer in arts, culture and leisure
• Feel confident to visit local high streets and town centres
Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive at Alzheimer’s Society, said:
“Dementia is the greatest health challenge we face and London is taking a lead in facing up to that challenge.
“With such strong commitment from the Mayor of London, alongside hundreds of thousands of Dementia Friends across the capital, London is set to lead all capital cities in becoming dementia-friendly.
“The message of today is that we all have a part to play. Businesses, councils, faith groups and community organisations are uniting with Alzheimer’s Society against dementia.
“Together we can deliver on the rights of residents and visitors to our great city so they can enjoy all that the city offers even when facing the daily demands of living with dementia.”
The charity is working with the GLA and other partners to achieve:
• 2,000 dementia friendly organisations (currently 700)
• 500,000 Dementia Friends (currently 120K)
• Every London borough working towards becoming a dementia-friendly community (currently 11 boroughs signed up to the Dementia Friendly Communities Recognition Process)
• Meaningful involvement of people affected by dementia
Scott Mitchell, husband of iconic actress Dame Barbara Windsor, who revealed earlier this month she had been privately living with Alzheimer’s disease for four years, said:
“It’s amazing to see Londoners uniting to make the capital a place where people with dementia, like Barbara, are understood, respected and supported. We are fully behind the Mayor’s commitment to make London a dementia-friendly city.
“There is no reason someone should be ashamed of having dementia and people affected by the condition should be able to live well and enjoy all the city has to offer. A dementia-friendly London will help Barbara and all people living with dementia continue to do the things they love, like going to the cinema, having dinner out with friends and continuing to be part of society."
Speaking at the event were Joanne McCartney, Deputy Mayor of London, Staynton Brown, TFL Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Dr Vin Diwakar, Regional Medical Director, NHS England, Superintendent Mark Lawrence, Metropolitan Police, Eddie Curzon, Director, London and Thames Valley CBI and Bernie Flaherty, Bi Borough Executive Director for Adult Social Care and Health and London ADASS Dementia Lead.
Learning about dementia can make it easier for people to support those living with the condition. The charity is calling on every person living in London to take action and become a Dementia Friend at dementiafriends.org.uk
Businesses and individuals can get involved by visiting alzheimers.org.uk/dementiafriendlylondon
Alzheimer’s Society’s national Dementia Awareness Week has been renamed Dementia Action Week. The charity is calling on everyone to unite and take actions, big or small, to improve the everyday lives of people affected by dementia.
From continuing to invite people with dementia out, to making sure you listen and include them in conversations, people with dementia and carers have shared actions that will make a difference – helping them to feel included in their communities and able to live the lives they want.
To get involved this Dementia Action Week and unite against dementia, visit alzheimers.org.uk/DAW
