Scottish Government releases dementia strategy

The Scottish Government has  unveiled a new 10-year strategy for dementia care.

Everyone's story outlines a number of priorities intended to improve the lives of people living with dementia, along with their families' and carers' as well.

The priorities include support before and after diagnosis, actions to enable more people to live well in their communities, involving those affected in the design and delivery of their own support and access to care from a skilled and trauma-informed workforce when appropriate.

The strategy also commits to tackling stigma by making sure two-year delivery plans will be agreed to ensure progress is made. The first plan set to be published at the end of the year.

The strategy is a joint publication by the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

Mental wellbeing minister Maree Todd said: “Dementia is a brain health condition which impacts at least 90,000 people across Scotland, as well as their families and their communities. This strategy sets out what we want to achieve and the difference we want to make to people’s lives.

“Diagnosis can bring significant mental health and wellbeing challenges that need to be acknowledged and addressed to ensure a person’s rights are upheld. That’s why the strategy was developed in collaboration with the National Dementia Lived Experience Panel. We want everyone affected to be involved in its delivery.”

COSLA health and social care spokesperson Councillor Paul Kelly said: “We welcome this strategy as it rightly challenges us to do more and go even further, to continue to improve the care and support for people living with dementia and their care partners. Delivering it will require us all to continue to work collaboratively in a positive and proactive manner, while respecting each other’s different experiences of dementia.”

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