Code of practice on ‘dementia-friendly communities’

Developed in conjunction with Alzheimer’s Society and the Department of Health, with input from organisations including Age UK, the Dementia Action Alliance (DAA), and Public Health England, PAS 1365 provides recommendations for ‘who should be involved in developing a dementia-friendly community, what areas of a community to consider, and what changes to expect as a result’. The BSI stresses that ‘people with dementia and carers are an integral part of each stage of the process’.

The code of practice covers:

• How to develop a dementia-friendly community by engaging community stakeholders in the process of setting priorities.
• Areas for action with the community that are meaningful to people with dementia.
• Opportunities for promotion during the development process, and as major accomplishments are completed.
• What to expect as a result of developing a dementia-friendly community.

BSI emphasises that the Code ‘does not cover a specific checklist of what to do’. 

The standards body says there are an estimated 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK, with numbers set to rise to over 1 million by 2021. Currently two thirds of people with dementia live in the community. The BSI added: “PAS 1365 will help to ensure that communities are more aware of the needs of those with dementia and how to help them, as well as enabling them to live better in their community.” 

Anne Hayes, head of Market Development for Governance at BSI said: “The aim of dementia-friendly communities is to improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their carers wherever they live. In local communities small changes are making a real difference, but these need to be rolled out on a wider scale. Following guidance such as PAS 1365 is a key step towards improving understanding and providing help to those who need it most.”