Agenda item

Report of Director of Children and Adult Services

The Director of Children and Adults Services submitted a report (previously circulated) which enabled Members to give consideration to the work of the Dementia Task and Finish Review Group and receive an update on the progress made in terms of the recommendations, and to determine whether the recommendations remained relevant and viable.

The submitted report stated that the Adults and Housing Scrutiny Committee established a Review Group in November 2015 to look at the dementia pathway and support and advice services in Darlington. It was reported that the Review Group met on several occasions between November 2015 and June 2016, and that a number of recommendations were made, and endorsed by the Adults and Housing Scrutiny Committee. It was highlighted that these recommendations were subsequently approved by Cabinet at its meeting on 17 January 2017, and by Council at its meeting on 26 January 2017. A copy of the final report of the Dementia Task and Finish Review Group was appended to the submitted report, alongside an outline of the actions undertaken to date, the Dementia Strategy for County Durham and Darlington 2014-2017, and the Dementia Governance Structure.

Discussion ensued on recent studies linking dementia to air pollution; the issues in terms of obtaining any input from medical professionals during the work of the original Review Group; the work undertaken with surgeries by the Alzheimer’s Society; and the dementia awareness training undertaken by Members.

Members entered into discussion on how Members could understand how well services were working from the perspective of an individual living with dementia and were informed that quarterly reports were received. Members also heard of the work being undertaken in the Haughton Ward to ensure shops, pubs, and other services were accessible to those living with dementia.

Members acknowledged that an enormous amount of work had previously been undertaken, however expressed concern that much was now out of date, and that there were many gaps in the progress made. Members were keen to see further work undertaken in relation to care for those living with dementia in care homes, domiciliary care, the Dementia Action Alliance, and the Good Friends Scheme.

RESOLVED – That Members give further consideration to any areas of work that they wish to bring forward, and that topics be proposed in the appropriate manner.