How can housing associations support people to live well with dementia? SW Housing Lin conference 20 October Denise Brennan, Head of Strategy and Policy Guinness Care and Support

Becoming a dementia friendly organisation Context What the report says What next

Background to commissioning the report GCS Dementia Strategy and Plan –Awareness raising - Dementia Friends –Information on intranet and website –Environment –Services to people with dementia in TGP –Assistive Technology services –Best practice Dementia Action Alliance

The context for Guinness Older customers –60,000 homes –7,000 homes for older people –17,000 people over 65 receiving services Customers with dementia? Prevalence rates –900 to 1,100 people living with dementia –300 general needs, 100 leasehold Geographical distribution

What ‘dementia friendly’ looks like Messages from people with dementia Linked to the progression of dementia Service characteristics needed as a response

How dementia friendly is Guinness now? Interviews and staff surveys Focus group with customers Awareness? Proactively supporting people in early stages? Enabling independent living? Support as people become more frail?

Themes emerging from staff and customers Staff training and support Raising awareness Customer intelligence Service offer Buildings and the environment

What next? Key questions –Impact, resource, wider benefit, integrate, test Pilot area Involve customers and staff in developing our service Embed proven measures, where feasible, as quickly as practical Raise awareness Use change programme – integrate Housing and Dementia Project Lead