Become a Dementia Friendly organisation

The number of people in London with dementia is increasing and it is estimated that over 12,500 people in Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington (North Central London or NCL) currently live with the condition. People living with Dementia can face challenges like memory loss, visual perception issues, restricted mobility and noise sensitivity, which can make everyday activities stressful. The NCL Dementia Friendly scheme is a partnership between Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington Local Authorities and North Central London Integrated Care Board. We are committed to improving the lives of people living with dementia and their families and carers and are inviting organisations and businesses across North Central London to sign up and get involved.   Our mission is:

Working together as a community to support people affected by dementia

Who can become a Dementia Friendly organisation?

Everyone can play a part in making people living with dementia and their carers feel welcome, included and valued by the community. We welcome any organisation regardless of size or sector – retail or business, charity or faith group, sports and leisure centres and everything in between. Any organisation operating in Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington, can apply to join.

What do we have to do?

Becoming an NCL Dementia Friendly organisation starts with small steps.

Step One – Become Dementia Aware

We ask every participating organisation to commit to having greater awareness of dementia and understanding the small things an individual can do to improve the lives of people living with dementia and their carers. Depending on the area you are working in, there are different options as follows. Contact your local coordinator listed below.

• Attend a free dementia awareness session in your local area.
• Invite someone to deliver a session to your team.
• Watch a few short Understanding Dementia videos created by the Alzheimer’s Society.

 

Step Two – Make at least two commitments to becoming more dementia friendly

Make a plan about how your organisation will become dementia inclusive. Starting with even just two small commitments will make a difference. You can build your plan over time if you choose. Your commitments will be tailored to your organisation and will depend on the type and size of your organisation. Make sure you have the resources to make your plan happen and that your commitments are relevant to what your organisation does. It’s a team effort. Get everyone in the organisation on board with the plan. Here are some ideas to get you started.

• Simple adjustments to spaces and decor can make a difference for people living with dementia. Check out the Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Friendly Environment Checklist for more ideas.
• Improve signage to make it easy for people with dementia to find their way around. Check out the Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Friendly Signage guide.
• Are you a retail business? How about offering dedicated times for Slow Shopping?
• Offer support for staff who are living with dementia or carers, such as emergency and special leave policies.
• It’s important for people with dementia to stay active, physically, mentally and socially. Think about offering activities for people with dementia such as reminiscence, art, singing, drama, games, walks or social time. Here are some ideas from Dementia UK.
• Are you developing a new service? Use the Alzheimer’s Dementia Experience Toolkit to consider how to make the service appropriate for people living with dementia.
• If you are an arts and culture venue, you may want to consider signing up to the London Dementia Friendly Venue and becoming an accredited venue.
• Encourage others in your network to be dementia friendly. Promote the Dementia Friendly Scheme on your social media channels.

 

Step Three – Let us know your plan

Get in touch with your local Dementia Friendly coordinator to let them know your plans. Details for your local area are listed below. You will be added to our growing list of NCL Dementia Friendly organisations on the website. You will receive an electronic logo which you will be permitted to display or add to your letterheads or email signatures for instance. You will be added to your local distribution list so you can learn about everything dementia related in your community and link up with other NCL Dementia Friendly organisations to exchange and share information, ideas and resources. We will get in touch occasionally to find out how you are getting along with your plan. If you are happy for us to do so, we would love to share your good news on our website.

Where do we sign up?

For more information, or to register your interest, please contact your local NCL Dementia Friendly coordinator. They will also let you know about Dementia awareness sessions in your local area or help you arrange a session just for your organisation.  

 

 

See who has signed up so far

(List of organisation names will appear here)

• Barnet
• Camden
• Enfield
• Haringey
• Islington

Will you join us?

Good news stories

Watch this space for good news stories about organisations that are proud to be Dementia Friendly.