Lewisham's updated dementia strategy, set to cover the period 2026-2030, is on track for final sign-off in November 2026. The strategy aims to improve outcomes by focusing on five key stages: preventing well, diagnosing well, supporting well, living well, and dying well, with an additional consideration for caring well.
The Healthier Communities Select Committee received an update on the strategy's development on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. The strategy development has involved local data analysis and intelligence gathering, drawing data from primary care, community services, mental health services, social care, and voluntary sector providers. Evidence reviews have also been conducted, including guidance from the Alzheimer's Society and the use of a 'Dementia 100' pathway assessment tool. These reviews are being used to inform priority setting for each stage of the dementia pathway.
Specific initiatives within each stage are still being refined, but the approach includes reviewing existing provisions and identifying gaps. For instance, under 'diagnosing well,' the strategy will examine dementia diagnosis rates, demographic profiles of diagnosed individuals, and potential gaps in diagnosis. The 'preventing well' stage is linked to addressing modifiable risk factors such as cardiovascular health. For 'supporting well,' the focus is on tracking coexisting health needs of people living with dementia to inform the care offer.
Ellen McGale, Assistant Director for Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Ade Adeoye, Local Service Manager for the Lewisham Dementia Support Service via the Alzheimer's Society, presented the approach. The Alzheimer's Society is the commissioned post-diagnostic support provider in the voluntary sector for Lewisham. They have been instrumental in leading the engagement with people living with dementia and their carers, employing sensitive methods to capture their views. They also provide various services such as telephone support, home visits, dementia cafes, art and craft sessions, music and movement, and carers' information and support programs. Furthermore, they offer free dementia awareness training for professionals and community members. Their commissioned provision is time-limited and will require a prioritization exercise for future commissioning.
Challenges in reaching seldom-heard groups and individuals with advanced dementia were acknowledged. Strategies to overcome these barriers include using simplified language and working with community leaders. The Alzheimer's Society is leading the engagement with those with lived experience, employing sensitive methods to ensure their voices are heard within the strategy. There is also a risk that the strategy may not sufficiently reflect the lived experience of people with dementia and their carers, which is being mitigated by strengthening engagement through surveys, guided conversations, and workshops, ensuring diverse representation and triangulation with VCSE partners and carers. Another risk is that reliance on existing resources may limit the deliverability of the strategy's ambitions, which is being addressed by focusing on realistic, deliverable actions aligned with existing programmes and improvement initiatives, with prioritization based on impact and feasibility. The plan also includes exploring opportunities for more targeted engagement through community organisations and networks.
The committee noted the progress on the dementia strategy, agreeing to receive a follow-up update in six to twelve months. Further details on the strategy can be found in the Public reports pack.
