Dementia Strategy Community Safety Committee

OFFICIAL Dementia Strategy Community Safety Committee Date: 24 April 2015 Agenda Item: Submitted By: Director of Service Delivery 5 Purpose To introduce Members to the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) Dementia Strategy. Recommendations That the Community Safety Committee notes the existence of the WYFRS Dementia Strategy which will enable the service to continue to improve targeting of resources and to meet Service Plan targets. Summary As the UK population ages, WYFRS recognises the impact that dementia will have upon safety in the home for affected individuals in the coming years. Research shows that a significant number of dwelling fires are attributable to forgetfulness when cooking, smoking and using combustible materials. The WYFRS Dementia Strategy, which is aligned with the Government’s National Dementia Strategy “Living Well with Dementia” demonstrates WYFRS’ commitment to the delivery of the 17 objectives and associated outcomes contained within the National Dementia Strategy over the next 15 years. Local Government (Access to information) Act 1972 Exemption Category: None Contact Officer: Sarah Laidlow-Moore, Fire Prevention Manager E: [email protected] T: 0113 3875734 Background papers open to inspection: None Annexes: WYFRS Dementia Strategy and Action Plan 9 1 Introduction 1.1 Research shows that a significant number of dwelling fires are attributable to forgetfulness when cooking, smoking and using combustible materials. Dementia has a significant affect upon memory, and it is anticipated that without effective interventions the number of fires associated with forgetfulness will increase exponentially over the next 15 years. For this reason it is vital that WYFRS develops and implements a long-term plan to proactively manage the potential increase in demand for service required by an ageing population by providing appropriate prevention interventions aimed at reducing those fires attributable to forgetfulness. 2 Information 2.1 There is a growing commitment across agencies and organisations to support individuals living with dementia ranging from leisure services to financial institutions, all of which recognise that a growing number of their service users will be affected by dementia in the years to come. The WYFRS strategy outlines the key interventions that can be undertaken to increase safety and the quality of life of these individuals during and after a diagnosis of dementia. 2.2 WYFRS is working closely with partners in the public, voluntary and private sectors to support the delivery of the 17 objectives associated with the national strategy “Living Well With Dementia”. In order to work successfully in this area it is recognised that a significant degree of learning needs to be undertaken throughout the organisation and, to this end, a comprehensive training programme has already been developed and delivered to front line workers in WYFRS. In addition to training, the WYFRS strategy has a further two strands: partnership working and assistive technology/supported living. Each of these strands has associated objectives to be delivered throughout the life of the strategy and progress will be monitored through the development and delivery of an annual action plan, the first of which is attached to the strategy document. 3 Financial Implications 3.1 Costs associated with this report can be met from within existing budgets 4 Equality and Diversity Implications 4.1 There is significant potential for the Authority to deliver positive outcomes for West Yorkshire community members with dementia. Although dementia predominantly affects older people, younger people may also be diagnosed with dementia. The carers, friends and relatives of those people are also affected by the effects of dementia. 4.2 The Strategy should be accompanied by an equality analysis, and address the needs of different groups where attitudes towards dementia, and support for its effects, varies, for example due to religious or cultural beliefs and practices. 5 Health and Safety Implications 5.1 There are no H&S implications associated with this paper 6 Service Plan Links 6.1 The development of local proactive partnerships with organisations working with individuals with dementia is essential to the delivery of the Service Plan priority to deliver a proactive fire prevention and protection programme. 10 7 Conclusions 7.1 The production of the WYFRS Dementia Strategy demonstrates a public commitment on behalf of the Authority to work positively with organisations and communities to reduce risk amongst individuals living with dementia in the long term. 11 West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Dementia Strategy Background As the UK population ages, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service recognises the impact that dementia will have upon safety in the home for affected individuals in the coming years. In 2008 there were 700,000 people with dementia in the UK, by 2038 that figure is expected to rise to 1.4 million. Research shows that a significant number of dwelling fires are attributable to forgetfulness when cooking, smoking and using combustible materials. As dementia has a significant affect upon memory, it is anticipated that without effective interventions in place the number of fires associated with forgetfulness will increase exponentially. The West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Dementia Strategy is aligned with and supports the Government’s National Dementia Strategy, “Living Well With Dementia”, and, in the coming years, is committed to the delivery of the 17 objectives and associated outcomes contained within it. The Strategy has three strands: Training; Partnership Working; and Technology/Supported Living and each of these have associated objectives to be delivered within the first years of the life of the strategy. Using this approach, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service believe that by engaging positively with people who have dementia, their carers, and the organisations that work with them, it can actively contribute to a system where people affected by dementia: • Know where to go for help WYFRS staff can signpost people to the organisations and agencies that are there to help • Know what services they can expect We will educate our staff to understand the services available to people living with dementia • Seek help early for problems with memory • Are encouraged to seek help early Where forgetfulness is evident as a factor contributing to a dwelling fire or is recognised during an interaction with our staff, individual will be encouraged to seek help • Get high quality care and equal quality of care, wherever they live Our staff will liaise with care professionals to ensure that safety is embedded into an individual’s care package • Are involved in the decisions about their care. WYFRS understands that people with dementia and their carers have the right to be treated with respect at all times and will always involve individuals in decisions affecting their safety in the home. Objectives A key priority for WYFRS in the early years of the strategy is to work at a station, district and West Yorkshire wide level to develop the partnerships to allow us to deliver the above outcomes. Whilst WYFRS supports the National Strategy in its entirety, it has a particular interest or influence in the following areas: Training 1. Raise awareness of dementia in order to enable our staff to encourage people to seek help 12 2. Enable our staff to provide good quality information for people with dementia and their carers Our staff will be trained appropriately to enable them to communicate effectively with people who have dementia and their carers, to recognise potential signs and symptoms of dementia, and to give up to date and accurate information Technology/Supported Living 3. Consider how housing support, housing related services, technology and telecare can help support people with dementia and their carers We will work with our partners to ensure that appropriate safety interventions are embedded into their care packages and will keep abreast of technological advances that could improve the lives of people with dementia in the future Partnerships 4. An informed and effective workforce for people with dementia Our staff will be encouraged to develop positive relationships with dementia support groups and other organisations that can enhance our understanding of dementia and its effects on individuals 5. Improve assessment and regulation of health and care services and of how systems are working We have the advantage of gaining access into people’s homes at all stages and should be in a position to recognise and pass on information regarding the early stages of dementia, but also providing support whether the individual be in their home or in residential care, as we have a Protection service that can support that element. Conclusion WYFRS recognises that there is a great deal of learning required by the organisation to enable it to engage effectively with the challenges that dementia poses. To this end we have produced an action plan which focuses upon staff development and partnership working in the first year. It will be reviewed and reported upon at Community Safety Committee on an annual basis to ensure that the momentum towards the achievement of our goals is maintained in the coming years. 13 Action Plan Dementia Action Plan There are around 800,000 people in the UK currently living with dementia, and this number is set to soar to one million over the next ten years. It is estimated that one in 14 people over the age of 65 and one in six people over the age of 80 will have a form of dementia. Dementia in people under the age of 65 is comparatively rare. There are over 17,000 younger people with dementia in the UK. However, this number is likely to be an under estimate and the true figure may be up to three times higher. Data on the numbers of young onset cases are based on referrals to services, which can significantly underestimate the numbers, because not all those with young onset dementia seek help early in the disease course.

Load more