Dementia-Friendly Pharmacy
Pharmacies are the most accessible and frequently-visited source of healthcare in England. More people than ever are now living with dementia so it makes sense for pharmacies to be as dementia-friendly as possible. This section of our website includes guidance on:
- Greater Manchester Dementia-Friendly Pharmacy Framework
- Top tips, case studies and examples from dementia-friendly pharmacies
- Resources to help you make your pharmacy more dementia-friendly
- Signposting: National & local dementia support, including Dementia Action Alliances
Why should my pharmacy become more dementia-friendly?
- You’ll be meeting the needs of an ever growing patient/customer base.
- You’ll enable people with dementia to receive the same high-quality care as your other patients/customers.
- It is also an important part of being a Healthy Living Pharmacy in Greater Manchester.
Greater Manchester Dementia-Friendly Pharmacy Framework
Dementia United programme Bulletin
Dementia United publish regular newsletters including updates around the work to increase dementia awareness and deal with a diagnosis. You can read the latest edition here
Greater Manchester Dementia Care Pathway
The Dementia Care Pathway has been developed by the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Programme through its Dementia Programme (Dementia United) as part of an Integrated Care System. Dementia United worked with people living with dementia, their care partners, and professionals in Greater Manchester to find out what matters to them and to use this information to co-produce a set of 75 dementia quality standards.
Where Will I Find The Dementia Care Pathway?
You can access the Dementia Care Pathway via link here Greater Manchester’s Dementia Care Pathway (gmdementiaresources.org.uk)
You can also access the Pathway via the link in this flyer Greater Manchester’s Dementia Care Pathway May 2022
Who Is The Dementia Care Pathway For?
Whether you’re a member of the public looking for local support and information for yourself or a loved one, a commissioner looking for best practice guidance on how to support people in your community, or work in health and social care and are looking for the evidence behind different interventions, you’ll find it in our dementia care pathway.
WHAT SUPPORT AND LOCAL RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE?
The website has a section where you are able to select your borough and information find associated resources and local support which are available to support conversations with Patients, Carers and anyone else who is trying to find local information. This information can be found here
Resources to help you make your pharmacy more dementia-friendly
There are some fantastic resources to help you and your team become more dementia-friendly.
- Creating a dementia-friendly environment: This checklist has really useful tips to make your pharmacy premises more dementia-friendly, e.g. having clear signage and a layout that is easy to navigate.
- Guidance & tips for customer-facing staff: The Alzheimer’s Society has produced a guide to help staff delivering face-to-face services to people with dementia.
- Producing dementia-friendly information: Tips to help you produce patient/customer information that is more accessible for people with dementia.
- Dementia-Friendly GP Practice Guide: Although this guide was produced for GP practices, pharmacies will also find some useful and relevant tips. It was developed by Making Space and NHS Bury CCG.
- Communicating with someone with dementia: Another useful Alzheimer’s Society guide.
- CPPE Dementia training: CPPE provide a range of training including: Dementia e-learning; Consulting with older people living with dementia; Dementia focal point with Dementia Friends Session; and Dementia floor on Thelearningpharmacy.com.
- Medicines optimisation for people with dementia: This CPPE guidance supports pharmacy teams with medicines optimisation for people with dementia, enhancing clinical care and patient experience.
Signposting: National & local links for dementia support
There is a vast amount of support and guidance out there, including free information leaflets, memory cafes, singing for the brain, physical activities, carers support, and much more. Greater Manchester Police has now introduced the Herbert Protocol, which aims to reduce the time it takes to find someone with dementia if they go missing. The University of Manchester runs a free legal advice clinic for people with dementia and their carers. We’ve got loads of useful links below to help pharmacies signpost people to national and local support.
- The Herbert Protocol: The Herbert Protocol is a national scheme that has been introduced locally by Greater Manchester Police and other agencies which encourages carers and family members to compile useful key information which could be used in the event of a vulnerable person going missing. This short film is a great overview of how it works and why it matters. Pharmacies can sign up to support the scheme, using these resources:
- Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Guide: This guide is for people who have been diagnosed with dementia and those supporting them. It’s available in English and a range of other languages, with factsheets and video versions.
- Alzheimer’s Society publications: An extensive range of factsheets, guidance and information
- Alzheimer’s Society Talking Point: Online discussion forum with advice, information and peer support for people with dementia and their carers.
- Alzheimer’s Society ‘Brain Tour’: This is a really interesting resource that explains more about different types of dementia.
- Dementia UK publications: You can order from an extensive range of information leaflets.
- Dementia UK – Sources of support and advice: A webpage and guide that explains what support and advice is available for people with dementia. It includes information about Admiral Nurses.
- Dementia Law Clinic (free): The University of Manchester and Making Space run a dementia law clinic providing free advice on legal matters, admiral nursing and communication to support people with dementia and their families/carers. Find out more.
- Dementia-friendly homes: Pharmacy teams may find this guide useful when advising patients/customers or carers of people with dementia.
- Dementia Action Alliances: We are also encouraging pharmacies to join their local Dementia Action Alliance. A Dementia Action Alliance (DAA) brings groups, organisations and businesses together to improve the lives of people with dementia. Greater Manchester LPC has joined the DAAs across Greater Manchester. DAAs are also a great source of support and advice on how you can make your pharmacy more dementia-friendly – and for signposting your patients/customers to local support services for people with dementia. To join, you just need to complete a short action plan and submit it online. Find out more about local Dementia Action Alliances. (Note: Rochdale does not currently have a DAA.)
Local signposting information:
Dementia Friends
It’s easy to become a Dementia Friend. You can watch a short film online. If possible, it’s also a great idea to attend a face-to-face session where you will gain more insight into what it’s like to live with dementia and how we can all make life easier for people with dementia.
Dementia Toolkit: Appropriate prescribing of antipsychotic medication
The toolkit was developed by London Clinical Networks and Yorkshire and Humber Clinical Networks, with input from a range of stakeholders including the Royal College of General Practitioners and NHS England’s Dementia policy team, and Medicines Safety Improvement programme. The toolkit aims to support appropriate prescribing and deprescribing of antipsychotic medication.
The resource has been developed to aid good practice and to help reduce variation in prescribing across England. It complements guidance available at a regional level, and provides guidance and information to address:
- uses, risks and alternatives to antipsychotic medication
- risk reduction in antipsychotic prescribing
- support for local systems to deliver best practice in antipsychotic prescribing and de-prescribing where appropriate
Click here to view the toolkit
Local resources and support
| Bury: Dementia resources and support | |
| Bury Carers | Bury Carers offers support to carers who look after a relative, partner or friend of any age, who needs help due to a physical or mental illness or disability, frailty or an addiction. |
| The Bury Directory | The Bury Directory is a fantastic resource with easy-to-navigate details for a vast range of services, support and groups. You can access information from the homepage and search for what you need. We’ve also listed some quick links to particular pages on dementia. |
| Bury Council: Dementia-Friendly Bury | Bury Council and local groups are working together to create dementia-friendly communities across the borough. The groups involve local businesses, public services, voluntary organisations, residents and more. There is one for each area of Bury and the groups meet regularly to lead and support steps that will their community more dementia-friendly.
For more information, and to join your local dementia-friendly community, contact Zena Shuttleworth (z.shuttleworth@bury.gov.uk, 0161 253 5272) or Shirley Allen (s.allen@bury.gov.uk, 0161 253 6302)at Bury Council. |
| Manchester: Dementia resources and support | |
| Manchester Carers Centre | Manchester Carers Centre offers support to carers who look after a relative, partner or friend of any age, who needs help due to a physical or mental illness or disability, frailty or an addiction. |
| Peer Support for carers | Manchester Carers have launched a peer mentoring service for the families and friends of people with dementia. It includes phone support and home visits. |
| Local Groups | Dementia-friendly swimming
People First (memory cafes, befriending support, drop-in advice sessions etc) Manchester Dementia Support Service referral form (People First) Services & activities at Zion Centre and Kath Locke Centre – full guide; 2-page ‘what’s on’ summary Chorlton & Whalley Range Dementia Action Group hold meetings & events like these in April-May 2018. |
| Manchester City Council | Manchester City Council’s website has information aimed at older people:
Health & wellbeing support for older people (incl links to memory service, dementia support etc) Improving life for older people (incl links to local groups and physical activities) |
| Manchester Community Central | Manchester Community Central provides information and support about community and voluntary organisations in the city. Their website has lots of useful information.
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| Oldham: Dementia resources and support | |
| Dementia events calendar | This extensive list is a great overview of the vast range of services and support for people with dementia in Oldham. It includes memory support groups. Making Space have also launched this memory support group at the European Islamic Centre. |
| Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Support Service | The Alzheimer’s Society runs a Dementia Support Service offering one-to-one, personalised support for people with dementia, carers and families. Find out more. Download the referral form. |
| Singing for the Brain | Fun, stimulating Singing for the Brain sessions, for people in the early to moderate stages of dementia and their carers. Find out more. |
| Oldham Council | Oldham Council dementia services |
| NHS Oldham CCG | The CCG publishes a Living Well with Dementia in Oldham guide. |
| Rochdale: Dementia resources and support | |
| Carers’ Hub Rochdale | Carers’ Hub Rochdale offers support to carers who look after a relative, partner or friend of any age, who needs help due to a physical or mental illness or disability, frailty or an addiction. |
| Local Groups | List of services in and around Rochdale (from Alzheimer’s Society database)
Alzheimer’s Society memory cafes Mind also has a useful list of dementia support in and around Rochdale
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| Rochdale Council | Rochdale Council’s online service directory features useful links to support for people with dementia and their carers/families. Access it here. |
| Salford: Dementia resources and support | |
| Salford Carers Centre | Salford Carers Centre offers support to carers who look after a relative, partner or friend of any age, who needs help due to a physical or mental illness or disability, frailty or an addiction. |
| Local Groups | Salford Dementia Roadmap (links to useful groups at all stages of dementia)
Age UK Salford Dementia Support Service (includes friendship groups and advice/support) Salford Dementia Roadmap list of local groups (including memory cafes/singing for the brain etc) Humphrey Booth Resource Centre (groups and activities for people with dementia and their carers) Age UK Salford (general support) |
| Salford Council | Salford Council’s website features local information and links to useful groups. Access it here. |
| Stockport: Dementia resources and support | |
| Signpost Stockport for Carers | Signpost Stockport for Carers offers support to carers who look after a relative, partner or friend of any age, who needs help due to a physical or mental illness or disability, frailty or an addiction. |
| NHS Stockport CCG | The CCG’s website includes useful links to local dementia support and advice. |
| Local Groups |
Stockport Dementia Roadmap is a comprehensive online directory for services and support for people with dementia and their carers, including memory cafes, social groups and activities, advice services and much more. Alzheimer’s Society list of support in and around Stockport
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| Stockport Council | Stockport Council’s website has some information about dementia care and services. |
| Tameside & Glossop: Dementia resources and support | ||
| Tameside Carers Centre | Tameside Carers Centre offers support to carers who look after a relative, partner or friend of any age, who needs help due to a physical or mental illness or disability, frailty or an addiction. | |
| Derbyshire Carers Association |
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| NHS Tameside & Glossop CCG | The CCG’s website includes links to local sources of support and advice for people diagnosed with dementia and their carers. | |
| Local Groups | Leaflet listing support in Tameside (Oct 2017) (via Pennine Care NHS FT)
Leaflet listing support in Glossop (Oct 2017)( (via Pennine Care NHS FT) Pennine Care NHS FT services for people with dementia and carers Livewell with Dementia activities including swimming, bowling & cooking Age UK Tameside Dementia Wellbeing Group Making Space dementia support in Derbyshire (list of groups/activities) Reading Well ‘Books on Prescription’ for people with dementia and their carers |
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| Trafford: Dementia resources and support | |
| Trafford Carers Centre | Trafford Carers Centre offers support to carers who look after a relative, partner or friend of any age, who needs help due to a physical or mental illness or disability, frailty or an addiction. |
| Local Groups | Age UK Trafford |
| Trafford Council | Trafford Council has a searchable directory of services including those that support people with dementia and their carers/families. Access it here: Trafford Directory |
| Wigan: Dementia resources and support | |
| Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre | Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre offers support to carers who look after a relative, partner or friend of any age, who needs help due to a physical or mental illness or disability, frailty or an addiction.
Website: www.wiganandleighcarerscentre.org.uk |
| Local Groups | Scholes DFC Project
Wigan later life and memory service |
| Wigan Council | Wigan Council has a fantastic dedicated section of their website for dementia events, activities and services across the borough: www.wigan.gov.uk |
| Wigan and Leigh CVS | Wigan and Leigh CVS is a charitable company which exists to support voluntary and community organisations and positively promote voluntary action in Wigan. Their vision is to have a sufficiently resourced and sustainable voluntary and community sector which successfully meets the diverse and changing needs of the people of Wigan.
Their website provides the latest information, news and opportunities – providing an up-to-date resource to assist with your work and activities. To find out more about the work of Wigan CVS, visit its website |
For more information about local dementia services and support, visit https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/find-support-near-you
