1. Rural Dementia Matters: Can Powys lead the way
Rural Dementia Matters: Can Powys lead the way? Sam Bolam (Chief Officer, DMiP) Sandi Borgia, Sue Gallear

3. I want to tell you a story…

4. So what has that got to do with dementia services for people living in remote rural areas?

5. The association of social networks with reduced risk of dementia shown in recent studies remains significant even after confounding effects are taken into consideration Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 2009

6. Having dementia can bring with it difficulties that can be reduced or prevented. A key example would be social isolation. Social withdrawal is not a symptom of dementia, but the person with the diagnosis finds themselves in a more socially isolated position, and this might be happening at a time when they need even more social support than they did prior to their illness. Good information, advice, and emotional support services, can be instrumental in reducing these sorts of problems. (Age UK, Dementia and Cognitive Decline, 2014)

7. Strength of community ties and support
We need to maintain solid ‘social scaffolding’ around people affected by dementia
2017 Alzheimer’s report ‘Rural Dementia in Wales: The Lived Experience’ cites stigma as having the largest negative impact on people affected by dementia
Address stigma… don’t hide dementia away

8. Dementia Friendly Communities, Dementia Meeting Centres
Powys is developing a track record around community development approaches to dementia. Brecon was the first Dementia Friendly Community to be officially recognised as working towards becoming dementia friendly and the first Dementia Meeting Centre has been set up in Brecon
How can we maximise on these early steps and bring this approach more into mainstream planning, service provision and support?

9. Recognise the value of visibility

10. Dementia Voices
“Why does every family living with dementia have to sit and work it out for themselves”
Don’t force us to be adversarial
Acknowledging the difficulties. What worked yesterday might not work today
Differentiate for people’s preferences and needs around communication
It’s about making a start and overcoming anxiety. We will all make ‘mistakes’

11. A Renaissance in Rural Dementia Support
Here is our Leonardo moment in time!
Lets stop talking about ‘memory services’
Let’s do more of what is working well – Occupational Therapists are a good example of renaissance thinking. How can we apply this same approach to supporting people in rural communities?

13. Let us all be part of the renaissance!
Alzheimer’s report ‘Rural Dementia in Wales: The Lived Experience’ cites stigma as the number one issue affecting people’s lives. Lets work more from a health and community development perspective to address this
Continue to build on listening to experts by experience
Take support to people rather than expecting people to come to support – we have a great model in DFC’s
‘We are in this together and together we can make a difference’

14. Diolch am wrando Thank you for listening Any Questions?