Dementia Network

 Salisbury Area Dementia Network group is a network group for dementia services and service users within the community set up and managed by Safer and Supportive Salisbury.

A research report is being written in response to issues and questions raised by the members of the group, funded by a grant from the Wiltshire and Swindon Community Foundation.

The report investigates two specific areas:  

‘Independent and Impartial Information Gathering’ – where an independent and impartial process was undertaken to gather and collate information on current signposting and guidance to dementia-related services. This report examines the experiences of patients and carers as they approach, receive, and live with a dementia diagnosis and the agencies who support them. Interviews were carried out with individuals affected by dementia and their carers, representatives from the medical sector, facilitators of support groups with an interest in dementia, and care providers. The findings from these interviews were used as the basis for an unbiased report that reflects the current state of support and information provision.

The second area is ‘Facilitating Networking Opportunities’ to strengthen information sharing and to enable communication across all sectors of dementia provision in Salisbury. The aim is to identify key points of contact at each organisation to create a robust networking opportunity for individuals and organisations supporting dementia in the Salisbury area. This forum will allow participants to meet, exchange knowledge, and foster collaboration, thereby strengthening the community’s capacity to support those living with dementia.

All of the work being undertaken by this group takes account of the Wiltshire Dementia Strategy 2023-28, much of which aligns with this research.