Decision details

The Chair welcomed Zakyeya Atcha, Consultant in Public Health, and Marie Demaine, Senior Public Health Practitioner, to present an overview of the opportunities and challenges with implementing the council's Dementia Strategy.

The prevalence of dementia was highlighted by the fact that one in three people are diagnosed with dementia at end of life. It was said that dementia is not a disease but a collection of symptoms.

A recent report by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE - guideline NG97), quoted findings from the Alzheimer's Society that in 2013, the total cost of dementia in the UK was estimated to be £26.3bn. Approximately £4.3bn was attributed to health care and £10.3bn attributed to social care with the remaining £11.6bn in estimated unpaid care contributions.

The committee was informed that the county council's campaign on raising awareness of dementia symptoms and encouraging people to see their GP was highlighted by the Local Government Association (LGA) as an example of good practice by a local authority and was one of a number of case studies presented in the LGA's dementia support guide for councils.

Concerns were raised about the ageing population of Lancashire and the increase in pressure on services provided by the county council. Alongside social isolation, this was recognised as a particular area of concern for the county council.

A number of points were raised by members, a summary of which is set out below:

• The needs of carers should be essential to the strategy. Supporting both physical and emotional and social health needs in carers and people with dementia who may also experience mobility and continence issues from Parkinson's or frailty;
• Whether the council could utilise disability facility grants to support people with dementia;
• Dementia friendly housing and the challenges experienced by people living with dementia highlighting technology as a potential barrier. It was reported that the county council served on the Whyndyke Garden Village Healthy New Town Board which was leading on the Homes for Life Long Living theme.

It was suggested that the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing be invited to a future meeting to present on the development of a housing strategy for the ageing population of Lancashire.

Resolved: That;

1.  The report be noted; and

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing be invited to a future scheduled meeting of the Health Scrutiny Committee to present on the development of a housing strategy and the ageing population.