Abstract
Third sector dementia support is characterised by wide variation and a heavy reliance on volunteer engagement. While there has been a growth in the reach and diversity of different schemes, their short-term funding results in a loss of networks, collaborations and local knowledge. This practice paper reflects on strengthening community-based dementia support and care via public and third sector partnerships. National and local data sources could help charities and commissioners begin to identify inequalities of provision.
Highlights
Introduction and backgroundEnabling people to live well with dementia is a global health priority (WHO, 2017)
To explore volunteer engagement in community-based dementia care more systematically,and to understand how charities describe the involvement of volunteers in dementia support in communities across the UK, we reviewed charities registered with the Charity Commission
314 organisations were listed as providing dementia services but 109 charities were excluded from analysis, leaving 205 charities in the analysis
Summary
Introduction and backgroundEnabling people to live well with dementia is a global health priority (WHO, 2017). While there are some wellknown national initiatives in the UK (Brooker et al, 2018; Alzheimer’s Society, 2019; DEEP, 2021; TIDE, 2019; Dementia Action Alliance, 2020; Innovations in Dementia, 2020), charities providing community support to people affected by dementia remain vulnerable to funding cuts (The King’s Fund, 2019). This leads to the discontinuation of services, and to the loss of networks, collaborations and organisational memory of how to work locally and maintain links with supporters, often through volunteers (Clarke and Bailey, 2016; Cahill, 2020).This is problematic for volunteers working with people affected by dementia because it often requires particular skills in communication and knowledge. Little is documented about the role of volunteering in the third sector for people affected by dementia or how it is organised (N. Greenwood et al, 2013; Smith and Greenwood, 2014; D. Greenwood et al, 2018; Darlington et al, 2020)
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