WILTSHIRE held its first dementia-friendly conference this week with more than 70 people pledging to make the county more welcoming for people with dementia.

The event at Calne Town Hall was for representatives of the county’s 18 area boards who are leading moves to make their communities more supportive towards people living with dementia and their carers.

Penny Ford, dementia action alliance co-ordinator for the South West, encouraged each town to set up its own Dementia Action Alliance, a partnership of groups and businesses who pledge to improve the way they and their staff support people with dementia.

The conference was arranged by Alzheimer’s Society, funded by the Department of Health and supported by Trowbridge-based Alzheimer’s Support, which is working with the Society and Wiltshire Council to make the county more dementia friendly.

Babs Harris, Alzheimer’s Support’s CEO said: “We know that people living with dementia often feel isolated and let down by their communities but it is so important that they should still be able to enjoy all Wiltshire has to offer.

“We are delighted to see so much commitment from across Wiltshire to do more to help people in the community live well with dementia. Often it is small changes that can make such a big difference.”

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