Health Minister Simon Hamilton has today confirmed that the Delivering Social Change Dementia Signature Programme, Dementia Together NI, will continue.
The Minister said “It is important that I provide support and clarity to existing projects that aim to improve dementia services in Northern Ireland. The Dementia Signature Programme, being taken forward by my Department as part of the Delivering Social Change framework, is one such project.”
This particular Delivering Social Change programme, worth over £6m with expenditure in 2016/17 expected to be in the region of £2.8m, aims to raise awareness, information and support for people living with a dementia; deliver training and development for those in the caring professions, both formally and informally; and provide respite, short breaks and support for carers.
The Health Minister went on to say that next year the programme will resource Dementia Navigators in each of the five Trusts and Dementia Champions throughout Northern Ireland.
The Minister also stated that: “This programme, which is funded jointly by the NI Executive and The Atlantic Philanthropies under the auspices of the Delivering Social Change framework, will lead to a significant improvement in the quality of dementia care. It will support people living with dementia to maintain their independence and live well with the condition for as long as possible.
“It is hoped that the long term benefits of the programme will be an improved understanding of dementia in wider society, with benefits in primary and secondary prevention and reduced stigma.”
Notes to editors:
- Delivering Social Change is the Executive’s framework, set up to tackle poverty and social exclusion. It aims to deliver a sustained reduction in poverty and associated issues across all ages and to improve children and young people’s health, well-being and life opportunities thereby breaking the long term cycle of multigenerational problems.
- The DSC Dementia Signature Programme is one of three joint NI Executive / Atlantic Philanthropies initiatives which is operating for four years from 2013 to 2017. The three initiatives are:
- Transforming Children & Young People through Prevention and Early Intervention;
- Improving Dementia Care; and
- Promoting Shared Education.
- The NI regional strategy Improving Dementia Services in Northern Ireland which was launched in November 2011 sets out a holistic model for supporting people with dementia
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