On World Alzheimer's Day, Yvonne Castle, Chair of the West Yorkshire Housing Partnership’s Dementia-Ready Housing Task Force and Chief Executive of Johnnie Johnson Housing explains why we must act now to ensure our homes are fit for the future.
Dementia is no longer unusual. According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, one in 11 people over 65 in the UK are living with some form of dementia. And in West Yorkshire there are estimated to be almost 27,000 people living with the condition. By 2035 the number of people over 60 in England will reach 29% of the population.
With only a third of adults with dementia currently living in purpose designed homes, getting housing provision right is critical for the future. It means people will be able to live safely and independently in their own homes for longer, which is not only better for them, but it also makes good economic sense. The National Audit of Dementia shows that dementia currently costs the UK economy £26.3 billion a year and is a significant challenge for the NHS.
So, faced with this ticking timebomb, what do we need to do to ensure that suitable homes are available in the future? Social housing providers are making good progress, but more needs to be done if we’re serious about tackling the scale of the challenge that lies ahead.
At the West Yorkshire Housing Partnership, we’re working hard toward our goal of making sure dementia awareness is baked into the way we deliver support services, plan and design new homes, and how we consider the 180,000 existing homes we own and manage across West Yorkshire to make sure they are fit for the future.
Our dementia-ready housing taskforce, which was set up in March 2022, supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin’s commitment to ensuring older people’s housing and related services are dementia-friendly, and brings our 16 members together with partners like the NHS and specialist charities. It is early days, but there are already some great examples of the work that’s being done to drive and promote the dementia agenda within our member organisations. Each member now has a Dementia Champion, and dementia awareness training for colleagues in customer-facing roles is being delivered so they can support residents sensitively and effectively.
Some members have adopted dementia design principles in their new homes, which include providing a flexible layout, increased daylight and quality outdoor space. Some have hosted Memory Cafes that allow people to socialise in a safe space, or have introduced innovative technology which promotes interactive activities that boost memory function and social engagement. And others are using dementia-friendly colour palettes in their schemes.
We know times are financially challenging, but even small, relatively inexpensive changes can make a big difference. Things like installing bathroom locks that can open from both sides, changing the colour of a front door so it stands out, and providing clear external signage.
We will only succeed if we put residents at the heart of our plans and learn from their lived experience. Listening will be key to helping us understand what we can do to help them live well with dementia.
Alzheimer’s Research UK believe a cure for dementia is in sight, but “like landing on the moon, it’s going to take a massive and sustained effort from a very big international team to get there.”
So, until then, we must stop thinking of dementia-ready homes as a ‘nice to have’ and put their provision at the heart of our housing decisions.