TAVISTOCK Dementia Action Alliance is enlisting the help of Tavistock BID and Tavistock Area Support Services (TASS) in the next month to make the town dementia-friendly.

Tavistock DAA is seeking to gain the support of as many businesses, voluntary, charitable and social organisations in Tavistock to increase awareness and understanding of dementia.

Chairman Tony Parker said: 'While this started as a Rotary Club initiative we would now like all groups and organisations in Tavistock to make a commitment and play their part in creating a dementia-friendly community.

'That's everyone from the tennis club to the golf club or the churches to banks and hairdressers. We will then provide briefing, training and advice to each of them.'

Following the successful launch of the DAA in December in Tavistock Town Hall by the group's patron, Angela Rippon, the alliance is now enlisting the help of BID and TASS to reach as many individuals and organisations as possible during February.

Tony said: 'There is a simple declaration form to complete for any business or social group in the town.

'This will be available during the month from the BID and TASS websites as well as from the alliance itself.

'We are identifying both the level of commitment to creating a dementia-friendly community and importantly what groups want and need in terms of making things easier for those with a dementia or their carers.

'It may be things like advice on signs or leaflets or how to recognise the symptoms or dementia or at a different level policies and practices which should be adopted.'

The alliance hopes that through its work it will enable Tavistock to be one of the first in the country to be recognised as a dementia-friendly community.

It is also advising the county council through county and borough councillor Debo Sellis.

Tony said: 'Designing for those with a dementia and their carers has, to date, focused on the internal, generally institutional environment of care homes and dementia care facilities.

'Yet the majority of people with dementia live at home, around one third of these on their own.

'Unless outdoor environments are designed to help people with a dementia to continue to use their local community and its facilities, effectively they will become housebound.

'Many older people find the outdoor environment difficult to use and this is particularly the case for people with dementia who have orientation and short-term memory problems. These reduce their ability to find their way around, to recognise or understand where they are, or to remember where they are going.'

Tony said by creating outdoor environments that people with a dementia and their carers could use easily and safely, communities such as Tavistock could more easily become 'dementia-friendly'.

Anyone who would like to learn more about the Tavistock Dementia Alliance or would like a declaration form for their business or group can contact Tony Parker on 01364 631507.

The next open meeting of the alliance will be held at the town hall at 3pm on March 8 – all are welcome.