A new day care centre has been launched as part of plans to help people with dementia live longer in their own homes.
Surrey County Council, Runnymede Borough Council and the Alzheimer’s Society joined forces to open The Orchard to support up to 20 people with the illness a day.
Michael Gosling. Click the image to download
It comes after the council linked up with voluntary group CAMEO to increase the number of people with dementia it looks after at a day centre in Shepperton by 50 places by 2015.
Both are part of Surrey’s plan of teaming up with other organisations in the county’s 11 borough and districts, including councils and community groups, to give dementia sufferers better day care facilities and the opportunity to stay in their own homes.
Alongside this, Surrey is creating a network of wellbeing centres across the county that put the focus on providing help and advice, particularly for those in the early stages of dementia*.
Last month Surrey leader David Hodge announced £70,000 funding as part of a new telecare initiative aimed at helping older people, including those with dementia, stay independent.
In 2010, National Clinical Director for Dementia Professor Alistair Burns said the council and NHS Surrey were leading the way with their joint plans for improving dementia care.
Michael Gosling, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, said: “By working as one team councils, the NHS and voluntary groups are making life easier for people with this illness.
“People with dementia tell us they want to stay living in their own homes, in their local communities and in familiar surroundings and providing better day care facilities helps them do this.”
It is estimated that around 570,000 people in the UK have dementia, including 14,500 in Surrey.
Dementia causes memory loss, an inability to finish tasks and the loss of speech and mobility.
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* With Surrey and Borders NHS Foundation Trust and other councils.
Surrey News 
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