Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help promote clubs and societies that support people with Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia.

Whilst the Department does not promote specific clubs or societies for people living with dementia and their carers, we recognise that clubs and societies can be important in supporting people to engage with their community and reduce social isolation.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s Quality Standard on Dementia published in June 2019 includes guidelines for offering activities such as exercise, aromatherapy, art, gardening, baking, reminiscence therapy, music therapy, mindfulness and animal assisted therapy to help promote wellbeing. Local authorities are also required to provide or arrange services that meet the social care needs of the local population, including carers, under the Care Act 2014.

We are working with stakeholders and the health and care system to identify and implement actions to support people with dementia and their carers. Later this year we will be setting plans on dementia for England.