1. Building a Dementia
Friendly Community
Our North Lanarkshire Story
“Numbers satisfy the analytical part of
the brain but stories touch the heart”
Sandra Shafii
AHP Dementia Consultant
@AHPRunRideTeddy
sandra.shafii@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk

2. In the beginning………DDS!
 We listened to what people with dementia
were telling us
 They told us about what was important to them
 About who was important to them
 And where was important
 And why staying connected to their personal
and local communities was important
And they told us they wanted everyone
to understand dementia
and how it impacts on ordinary life

3. A Perfect Storm
 Match with policy and strategy
 Match with health and wellbeing
indicators
 Match with “Quality of Life”

4. What do we mean?
A dementia friendly community is composed of the
whole community - shops, public services, faith
communities, organisations, businesses,
emergency services, transport and community
leaders - who are committed to work together and
help people with dementia to remain a part of their
community and not become apart from it.
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This involves learning about dementia and doing
very simple and practical things that can make an
enormous difference.

5. But why
would shops
and
businesses
even be
interested?

6. Our Recipe for Success -
Take..
A Pinch from (Lord)
Sugar
and add a Dragon
lesson!

7.  Developed campaign materials
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Our USP - Be the first!!!
 Approached Alzheimer Scotland for our
“brand” Branding
 “Dementia is Everyone's Business”
Customer Care – the Hook!
 “Everyone knows someone with dementia”
Relationship
 Tips for Shops and Businesses
Quality products
 Commitment format and DFC Board
Engagement & Publicity (Win/Win)

8. Where have we got to?
 Working all 6 North Lanarkshire Townships
 South Lanarkshire catching on!!!
 Shared learning with 23 other areas in
Scotland
 Dementia Friendly Community Toolkit on
Alzheimer Scotland website (www.alzscot.org )
 Presenting at Alzheimer Europe Conference
and Masterclass
 Shared our work UK nationally, with Europe
and beyond (conferences and workshops)
 Writing a report for publication in October

9. How do we know it’s working locally?
 73 businesses and organisations signed up
 500 participants from mainstream
community groups
 1850+ attended awareness sessions
 All North Lanarkshire General Practices (PE)
 500 people supported Football Memories
event one month after launch in 2012
 Mystery shoppers and test calls
 Stories ++ and quotes
 Dementia features regularly in local media

10. Are we making a
difference?
ASDA staff members had to empty the Dementia Cafe
box three times, adding that the project has received
the highest ever number of votes for any group
in the poll’s history.

12. The only time you should look back
is to see how far you’ve come

13. Setting up for Success
 People - Partnerships
 People - Teamwork
 Preparation
 Planning
 Passion
 Prove it!!!

14. Working Group Built on Partnerships
 Critical foundation
 Statutory, public and third sector, people
living with dementia and more!
 Link up the work with national and local
policy and strategy
 It resonates with coproduction, asset-based
approaches and community
capacity

15. The Right People in Your Team
 Qualities and attributes (everyone is equal)
 Knowledge and skills (dementia and more!)
 Expert communicators
 Willing to work flexibly
 Visionaries …yes…….plus……
 Lovers of detail
 Practical hands-on people
 Warm, friendly, engaging, energetic and
inspiring……..

16. Preparation was everything!
 Defined the community and researched
it. What are the local social and
community issues?
 Gathered population facts and figures
(data)
 Who are the community leaders and
activists?
 Found out about any other projects and
initiatives underway…think about links
 Built on mainstream groups
It’s about inclusion

17. Planned our campaign!
 Prioritised our list - what’s manageable?
 What would have the biggest impact?
 Researched our businesses. What do
they stand for? Who wants to be first?
 We made promises!
 Went for the Win / Win !!
 Dementia is on the logo
 Reduce stigma by talking!

18. Leading with passion will inspire
others to action

19. Passion AND Shoe Leather
 Hard work? Maybe!!! But rewarding!
 Dementia is an agenda that unites us
all…be prepared to hear the stories!
 You need energy and enthusiasm
 You need creativity
 You need to believe that you can
make a difference…and you can!
 Then you need to get out there and
Just Do It!

20. Proof of Concept????
It is definitely a good idea!
 Good ideas have legs. They travel well!
 Good ideas have heart. They get to us at
our values and connect us around what
matters
 Good ideas have hope. They are about
possibility and potential
 Good ideas are powerful. They can shift
thinking and behaviour, have impact and
can bring sustainability

21. NEVER DOUBT
that a small group
of thoughtful committed citizens
can change the world.
Indeed
it is the only thing
that ever has
Margaret Mead