Influencing public policies

What do we do?

Government policies affect all our lives. Health, community care, housing and social security policies particularly affect people with dementia and their families. The public policy department of Alzheimer Scotland aims to:

• represent the views and interests of people with dementia and their carers to policy makers
• influence public policies which have an impact on the lives of people with dementia and their carers
• promote the need for high quality services for people with dementia and their carers.

How do we do this?

In order to influence public policies we:

• run campaigns to influence legislation within the Scottish Parliament and Westminster Parliament
• meet with Government ministers, provide evidence to parliamentary committees and brief senior civil servants
• analyse the impact of policy proposals on people with dementia and their carers
• provide briefings to politicians, professionals and the public
• consult widely with our members and others on key issues
• form alliances with like minded organisations who have common aims, such as the Neurological Alliance of Scotland
• hold conferences and seminars
• publish research based policy reports
• work with the media
• produced a Dementia manifesto for 2003-2007 aimed at the Scottish Parliament

How can you help?

You can help to influence public policies that affect people with dementia and their carers by writing to:
Members of the Scottish Parliament
Members of Parliament (Westminster)
Scottish Ministers
UK Government Ministers
Local Councillors
Giving your views to us to inform our consultation responses

Useful links:

Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Alzheimer's
Scottish Government dementia national priority summary paper
Alzheimer Scotland policy reports
Consultations
Submissions
Scottish Dementia Working Group
Local involvement throughout Scotland
Dementia Statistics for Scotland