NORTH Yorkshire MP Rishi Sunak has called for all the market towns in his constituency to become dementia friendly communities.
The Richmond MP said it was vital that communities prepared themselves to cope with the expected increase in the number of people suffering from the condition.
Speaking to a round table discussion event in Northallerton organised by the Alzheimer’s Society with his support, Mr Sunak said the number of people with dementia in North Yorkshire – currently 3,000 – was expected to double in the coming years.
Describing it as “a huge challenge”, the MP said that because the vast majority of sufferers lived in the community rather than hospital the challenge of helping people to live with the condition had to be met in the community.
“He said: “Local businesses and town councils can take the lead in ensuring their environments support those suffering with dementia.
“Better signs, brighter lighting, clear floorspaces – these are all small things that can make a big difference.”
He gave as an example the black floor mats many shops placed at their entrances in times of bad weather. People with dementia could perceive these to be deep black holes and would not enter.
Mr Sunak said he would work with the Alzheimer’s Society North Yorkshire and the Hambleton and Richmondshire Dementia Alliance to establish Northallerton as the first Dementia Friendly community in the area as a tribute to the late Cllr Tony Hall.
Cllr Hall, who died earlier this year and was a former Mayor of Northallerton, had been leading efforts to improve understanding of dementia in the town.
“Tony was passionate about this issue and wanted Northallerton to be dementia friendly community,”said Mr Sunak. “It would be very appropriate that this happens as a tribute to the work Tony did in his home town over so many years.”
The process of becoming a dementia friendly community involves a range of businesses and organisations in the private and public sectors committing to making their premises dementia friendly and their staff and volunteers dementia aware.
He said that after completing the process in Northallerton he would be keen to see it rolled out to other towns in the area.
He also urged his constituents to become Dementia Friends by attending a short awareness session run by the Alzheimer’s Society.
“For 45 minutes of your time you will gain an awareness of dementia and a vital understanding of how to help. It is key we raise awareness of this program and of dementia more broadly.”
He said he was proud that in his constituency office all his staff would by the end of the month be Dementia Friends, having completed the course.
A number of free Dementia Friends sessions are due to held in Northallerton and Richmond in the next few weeks. See www.dementiafriends.org.uk/ for details of the sessions and how to book.