Agenda item

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health and the Corporate Director of Social Care, Health and Wellbeing on the progress made in supporting people living with Dementia and their carers and work being undertaken with the NHS to ensure that Dementia services in Kent are of a high quality and consistently available, on which the committee is asked to comment.

1.            Ms Hanson introduced the report and outlined the work currently going on to develop and re-design dementia services in Kent. Phase 3 the Adult Social Care transformation programme would build on lessons which had been learnt from previous work as the Council moved into the design phase for the older persons’ wellbeing offer.  Ms Hanson responded to comments and questions, as follows:-

a)     although parts of Kent fell below the national target of 67% for dementia diagnoses, much good work had been undertaken and most clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) had now achieved this target.  Low diagnosis was shared by many CCGs nationally.  Many people simply did not want to be given a diagnosis, and this factor would inevitably help to shape the national pattern;

b)    as people with learning disabilities now lived longer and would reach an age at which they might develop such conditions, it was important that they be included in work on dementia services;

c)    the work of dementia cafes was praised, as music therapy was very helpful in bringing back distant memories and times of enjoyment at youthful dances and old films, and the opportunity for social contact was important for those who might otherwise be isolated; and

d)     ‘drop-in’ services for people with dementia were also well-run and much enjoyed by local people.  The first thing visitors asked for when they attended such services was information about dementia and the services available.  It could be difficult and confusing for those coping with a new diagnosis to find out what services were available and by whom these were provided. Some information seemed to be duplicated while some was not available at all. Elected Members could also be helped to better understand what services were provided by whom so they could be in a better position to help local people to find information. Ms Hanson supported the points made and commented that, with such information, it was important to remember that one size did not fit all. The aim was to achieve ‘a life, not a service’, as set out in the ‘Your Life, Your Well-being’ strategy, discussed earlier in the meeting.

2.         RESOLVED that:-

            a)        the progress made in supporting people living with dementia and their carers, and the information set out in the report and given in response to comments and questions, be noted; and

            b)         the approach of working with the NHS through the next stage of the Adult Social Care Transformation Programme, to ensure that dementia services in Kent were of a high quality and consistently available, be endorsed.