Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support community-led initiatives for dementia support in Solihull constituency.

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 unpaid carers, under the Care Act 2014.

There are a number of local initiatives provided via third sector charitable organisations that focus on support within their community living with dementia, allowing them to engage closer with the communities they live in. For example, within Solihull there is the facility of a Dementia Café and the ability to attend a Singing for the Brain event.