Dementia Manifesto 2009

Words into Action on Dementia

Priorities for Action on Dementia in Scotland

The Scottish Government, together with its health and social care partners and the full involvement of stakeholders, must build on existing priorities for dementia, and take a strategic approach to planning to meet the current and future health and social care needs of people with dementia and their carers. Additional funding will be necessary to implement the changes called for in this manifesto.

We believe that an additional £15 million (minimum) Change Fund, per year for the next 5 years, will enable the effective use of available resources in the longer term and improve the lives of many thousands of people with dementia and their families in Scotland.

Alzheimer Scotland calls for:

• The Scottish Government to ensure the implementation of a comprehensive, adequately resourced Dementia Strategy through the development of local dementia strategies led by NHS Boards and local authorities working in partnership.
• The Scottish Government to establish a Change Fund of at least £15 million a year for the next five years to enable the implementation of the Local Dementia Strategies.
• The Scottish Parliament to introduce legislation to improve measures for personalisation of care and support
• Mandatory dementia care training for all health and social care staff providing care to people with dementia; and regulatory standards relating to training in dementia care.
• Local authorities to commission specialist dementia care services to improve the quality of life and standards of care for people with dementia; and put an end to large-scale tendering for generic services that include people with dementia.
• UK and Scottish governments to increase funding for research into dementia.