The Fife Dementia Strategy: 2010 – 2020 - The Knowledge Network

Dementia Information Stations
Alzheimer Scotland has recently designed information stations to be
placed in buildings and facilities regularly visited by older people. Four
stations have confirmed locations and another four are awaiting
placement. The Stations are wall-mounted with a range of pockets
featuring a variety of information on dementia for people with dementia,
their carers and the general public. They also have contact details for
Alzheimer Scotland Fife Service if people would like more information.
pharmacist bags, in newspapers and post-offices they hope to decrease
stigma and improve diagnosis.
Reducing stigma and increasing awareness of dementia throughout Fife will
also help families, friends and communities to support people with dementia at
home to maintain their independence for longer. This will be especially true if
awareness campaigns include information on local support and community
groups, as well as practical advice on how to live with and assist someone
with dementia.
Any awareness raising campaign must include messages about the changes
that can be made to reduce the risk of dementia. With the majority of people
with dementia being over the age of 80 years, innovative ways to prevent the
symptoms of dementia should be included in earlier retired life. Research on
population health has shown key strategies that may be used in the
prevention of both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, and evidence
already exists for treatment of hypertension and prevention of dementia. Older
people in Fife should be educated on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. A
similar campaign is recommended to the Department of Health’s National
Dementia Strategy centred on the slogan ‘what’s good for your heart is good
for your head’ 11 .
Learning from the above efforts, a local awareness campaign will be
developed in partnership with Fife Council, NHS Fife and Alzheimer
Scotland’s Fife Service which focuses on informing the public what dementia
is and what it is not, the importance of healthy living, what to do if they
suspect they or a loved one may have dementia, and what services and
supports are available to them. It is anticipated that the National Dementia
Strategy for Scotland will include national actions on awareness raising and
informational campaigns, and in this case, in Fife we will ensure we integrate
local and national campaigns in a harmonious way. Services must be
developed in a coordinated fashion to ensure that any increase in awareness
which may lead to increased demands on services is met by high quality
services able to provide appropriate care and information.
Information campaigns will also be targeted at individuals who come into
regular contact with the public and older people, informing them of how to
11 Department of Health (2009). Living Well with Dementia: A National Dementia Strategy.
London.
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