There will soon be over a million people living with dementia in the UK. Each of them can be seen as disabled, not only by the symptoms and challenges of the condition itself, but by many unnecessary societal and environmental barriers.
We at Innovations in Dementia believe that everyone has the power to change or minimise these barriers, by making adjustments to the physical environment and to attitudes and behaviours, and by adopting a rights-based approach.
A vision of hope, enablement and positivity
Innovations in Dementia has collaborated with eight other major dementia organisations, who have come together as One Dementia Voice (ODV). We have produced a vision based on what people with dementia have told us about these barriers, and what we know about their human rights.
Our vision is that:
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We must focus not only on the medical aspects of dementia, but also on the many other barriers which disable those affected.
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We must address these societal and environmental barriers proactively, thinking more about rights, citizenship, inclusion and equality.
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In this way we can each play our part in bringing more hope and meaning to the lives of those of us who live with this condition.
Our vision is about hope, enablement and positivity. Recognising dementia in terms of disability rights and citizenship can empower and give hope to those who are diagnosed, and their families.
Focusing on the barriers which disable people with dementia
This approach helps us all to focus on how the disabilities associated with dementia connect with social, attitudinal and environmental factors; with the strengths, resilience and abilities of people with dementia themselves; and with the principles of solidarity and inclusion. It should help people with dementia to access everything that others, with or without disabilities, access – and to remain active citizens and participants in their own lives. Society can also learn from them what the barriers are, and redouble its efforts to minimise them through what the law calls reasonable adjustments/accommodations.
The vision has been endorsed and tested by the nine ODV member organisations in the course of 2022. While progress inevitably takes time, it has influenced their strategic thinking, their messaging and many practical aspects of their work.
We now wish to roll out this vision much more widely and invite you to take it on board and implement it within your own organisation and work.
You can access the new document ‘Dementia and Hope’. It sets out our starting point and the key benefits of the approach. It addresses many frequently asked questions and provides suggestions on how to embed ‘Dementia and Hope’ into your organisation. We have included many personal stories and examples of how ‘reasonable adjustments’ can and should be made for people with dementia. There are also a number of audio and film resources we hope you will share with your colleagues.