Equality and health inequality issues in dementia

This document, published by Public Health England, summarises some of the main themes emerging from discussions at a workshop to consider equality and health inequality issues in dementia.

Download PHE Dementia Equity Event – Summary

The workshop held on 7 May 2014 was attended by forty participants, including leading figures from the voluntary, community, and statutory sectors, alongside people living with dementia.

The workshop began with 3 presentations intended to bring everyone to a common level of understanding and provoke discussion on how to improve.

  1. Overview of equality and health inequality issues and dementia. Jo Moriarty, Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King’s College London
  2. A workforce and provider perspective – ethnic identity and cultural diversity in dementia care: a person-centred approach. Karan Jutlla, The Association for Dementia Studies, University of Worcester
  3. A commissioner’s perspective – focus on Enfield. Paul Allen, Older People’s Commissioning Manager, Enfield Council

Download PHE Dementia Equity Event – Presentations

Attendees described a very complex picture, where an individual’s experience of dementia can be significantly determined by factors such as ethnicity, disability, or sexual orientation. They described low levels of commissioner understanding of these issues, and that good practice is not yet widely shared.

Partners will be seeking to turn these reflections into action over the coming months. In particular, several partners are coming together to create an evidence review on equality and health inequality issues in dementia for local commissioners. The aim will be to bring together disparate sources of information and analysis into a single document that can help commissioners understand the issues, and learn from case studies of good practice around the country.

Public Health England plans to hold a further event towards the end of 2014 for partners to review progress and consider next steps. To get involved or for any more information, please email dementiaequalities@phe.gov.uk.