Essex Dementia Care has been awarded the Inclusive Dementia Community Award
What Is an Inclusive Dementia Community Award
Inclusive Dementia Communities (IDC) are places, spaces, services and community groups where people living with dementia, their families and carers are:
- Understood, respected, and supported
- Confident in their ability to contribute to community life
- Included, involved, and empowered to make choices about their daily lives
The Essex IDC programme has been developed by Essex County Council in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society. The programme works through local dementia networks to recognise, support, acknowledge, and reward businesses, organisations, and communities that are taking steps to become more dementia inclusive.
IDC’s and the local dementia networks in Essex play a key role in building dementia and carer friendly places by making everyday environments more understanding, flexible, and accessible. Through increased awareness, flexible service delivery, inclusive policies, and visible support, they help remove practical barriers and foster spaces where people living with dementia and their carers feel recognised, respected, and included.
By working in partnership with local support organisations and community services, local communities, businesses, and services can raise awareness, strengthen local networks, and contribute to environments where people living with dementia and their carers are supported to participate fully in daily life.
The IDC accreditation scheme is based on the experiences of people living with dementia, their families, and their carers. Their insights shape our understanding of what truly matters and have guided the development of the programme.
Delivered by the Alzheimer’s Society as part of the Essex County Council Commissioned Community Dementia Support Services (CDSS), the IDC programme, and accreditation scheme help organisations, communities, and businesses improve their understanding of the impact of dementia on individuals and carers. Through meaningful action and a commitment to dementia and carer friendly practices, they can achieve IDC accreditation.
To achieve accreditation, organisations submit either an aspirational statement or an action plan, depending on the size of the organisation, which are reviewed and assessed against the criteria by the IDC network. People with lived experience are involved in the review and assessment, as they feel appropriate to assess the organisation. From carrying out site visits to holding interviews with organisations, supported by the community development team and in partnership with the IDC networks.
Why EDC got involved?
Dementia affects us all, and no matter the size of your community, business or organisation there are practical and meaningful actions you can take to make your community more inclusive.
- 1 in 3 people will develop dementia
- 2 in 3 will be directly impacted by dementia – through family, friends, or colleagues
People living with dementia often say:
- Businesses don’t know how to support them
- Social engagement becomes difficult
- They feel isolated and lose their sense of identity
For many, life seems to stop. But it doesn’t have to.
Every organisation, service, and business in Essex will encounter dementia in some way. Committing to action and becoming inclusive of people living with dementia, and carers benefits the whole community.
- Inclusive environments strengthen social connection, increase confidence, and support healthier, more engaged communities
- Improve accessibility to a wider audience, potentially Increasing business
- Boost staff morale and productivity through understanding, reducing stigma, and actively promoting inclusive practices.
- Improves experiences for clients and the wider community – More inclusive services support better outcomes for everyone, not just those living with dementia but also carers and the wider community.
- Enhance your reputation as a socially responsible organisation
We believe that together, we can make Essex a place where everyone belongs
- Signpost to local support and promote practical tools: Dementia: About dementia | Essex County Council