The ‘Dementia: More Than Just Memory Loss’ report, was published in 2016, and set out some of the key issues affecting people with dementia in Wales, in particular:
• A widespread lack of knowledge and understanding of dementia amongst professionals and the wider public.
• A lack of flexibility to effectively meet the needs of people living with dementia
and their carers.
• A lack of co-operation between services creates unnecessary difficulties and
barriers for people living with dementia and their carers.
The authors of the report called for a range of actions to address this, and there has been some progress, however, despite a range of changes across society at a policy, practice and community level, there is still a long way to go to transform services
and drive the cultural change needed to effectively meet the needs of people affected by dementia.
The author of this report has consistently focused on the importance of meaningful outcomes for people with dementia and their carers, to ensure that their lives have value, meaning and purpose. This is fundamental to ‘Rethinking Respite’ and to delivering the Welsh Government’s vision of ‘a dementia friendly nation that recognises the rights of people with dementia to feel valued and to live as independently as possible in their communities as outlined in the new Dementia Action Plan for Wales.