Merton Dementia Hub

Presentation to ADASS Spring Seminar 16-4-15

Simon Williams

Director of Community and Housing, Merton

Where we were (2012)

• One specialist day centre with 40 on roll • Services concentrated in one or two wards• Low rates of diagnosis (36%) compared to the best in

the country ( LB Islington 72%)• Little support on offer to anyone after a diagnosis until

they met “substantial” criteria• Typical story:” why did we have to wait so long to find

out about what could help?”

This is what it looked like

What we did• Listened to existing day centre users and carers• Looked at good practice (Stirling University)• Went back to market with new requirements based on

outcomes, quick and collaborative response to changing needs, access without prior social care assessment

• Pilot for 3 years to see what would happen• Awarded to Alzheimer's Society• Won £350k from dementia friendly environment programme• Not all easy: resistance to change and concerns about

open access

What’s happened?

• Now 568 people being supported• Range of support (next slide)• Memory clinics now held in the Hub• Diagnosis rates now at 60%, GPs can see the point• Environment that people deserve, funders happy• Anchors Dementia Action Alliance, raised awareness

outside health and social care (25 councillors trained as dementia friends)

• Provider has database to identity gaps in provision

16 Services (include)

• Dementia Support Work• Dementia Adviser• Singing for the Brain• Carers Support Groups• People with Dementia Support Groups• Carers Information and Support Programme (CrISP)• Life After Diagnosis Information Programme for people with

dementia• Cafés• Connecting Communities Programme (DoH volunteering BAME

initiative)

This is what it looks like now

This is what it looks like now

This is what it looks like now

Not just opening a building, but access to a road map and quick support