Funding now available to make Warwickshire ‘dementia friendly’

Residential homes, day centres and other places regularly used by people with dementia, such as cafes and garden centres, can apply for a minimum of £6,000 from Warwickshire County Council to make changes such as becoming more light an airy, using suitable colours based on research and creating sensory rooms and dementia-friendly gardens.

The idea is that people with dementia, when in these environments, will find it easier to make decisions, feel less distressed and agitated and feel more comfortable about social interaction and being independent.

Jose Compton, the county councillor responsible for policy on adult social care, said: “The evidence shows that making relatively minor changes to the environments in which people with dementia access care and support can have a dramatic impact on their overall experience of care, which help them to achieve better outcomes.

“We hope to see lots of organisations submitting bids for funding.”

Bid submissions will be reviewed and scored by an expert panel and successful applicants will be notified by May 27.

The council is asking for bids to be supported with evidence that shows that discussions with people with dementia, their carers and trustees of the organisations have taken place and have helped shaped the bid. All successful bidders will be expected to sign up to the ‘dementia pledge’ and ‘the dementia action alliance’.

The deadline to submit for bids is 10am on Monday May 12. For details and to apply, visit in-tendhost.co.uk/csw-jets/aspx/Home

For queries regarding the funding, email the county council’s Dementia Partnership at [email protected]