Towards a dementia inclusive society: WHO toolkit for dementia-friendly initiatives
This toolkit by the World Health Organization (WHO) provides practical guidance and tools that can support efforts, including planning and implementation activities, to create dementia-inclusive societies. It helps raise awareness of, and empowers people living with, dementia to remain in, and be a significant part of, their community.
It states:
"...effective collaboration across different sectors should: engage partners beyond the health sector, including from social, education, housing, finance, justice, labour, public safety, transportation, environment and infrastructure areas"
The physical environment - including housing - should optimise the opportunity for people living with dementia to live healthy and active lives, as outlined in the APPG on Housing and Care for Older People. It references Universal Design as a useful concept to consider when modifying the physical environment and we should ensure that housing that is affordable, accessible and responds to the multifaceted needs of both older people and people with dementia.
The toolkit is divided into two parts:
- Part I contains background information and a conceptual framework for creating dementia-inclusive societies.
- Part II includes four practical modules, each featuring a series of practical steps and exercises.
The four practical modules focus on:
- starting a new dementia-friendly initiative (DFI),
- integrating dementia into an existing initiative,
- monitoring and evaluation a DFI,
- and scaling a DFI.
The modules can be used together or separately and offer guidance that can be adapted to suit local needs and settings.