Health Secretary Allocates £50m to Dementia-Friendly Projects

Over 100 care homes and hospitals have had their bids accepted for a share of a new £50m dementia fund, the aim of which is to create pioneering care environments for those living with dementia.

The projects will form part of a national pilot; showcasing the best dementia-friendly environment examples and identifying the physical changes which are most beneficial for those with dementia.

Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, announced the details of the funding during a visit to Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust; who will receive just under £1m to fund its ‘Designing the Dementia Journey’ project. Hunt stated that the pilot scheme was “an important first step” in the pushing forward of better care environment’s for people with dementia.

The fund, which was announced late, last year, came after a report by The Kings Fund, which found that poor signage and cluttered ward layouts were contributing to stress and confusion among people with dementia. Installing clearer signage using distinctive colours and pictures were one of the suggested solutions to help reduce agitation and confusion.

Further details of those whose bids were successful can be found here.