Dementia-friendly rural communities

The following information and guidance is designed to help all types of rural communities increase awareness of dementia and become more dementia-friendly.

A man and woman walking down a high street

Rural communities have an important part to play in tackling the social and economic impact of dementia, by supporting people living with dementia to be part of their local community. 

People affected by dementia often have to give up the things they love due to low awareness, stigma and unsupportive environments. This includes being part of their rural community. 
Dementia-friendly rural communities guide

Your resource for supporting people affected by dementia in rural communities 

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Our guide gives best practice advice on how to create a dementia-friendly community in rural areas and shares successful case studies from across the country. It was created in partnership with the Prime Minister’s Rural Dementia Task and Finish Group, a group of organisations, individuals and rural experts. 

People living with dementia should be able to live the life they want to lead in their communities, irrespective of their condition. This will only be achieved with greater awareness, understanding, and support for those impacted by dementia. 

By developing an understanding of dementia, rural communities can make a huge difference to people living with dementia.

This guide is to help anyone in a rural community to get started on becoming dementia-friendly.

We need rural communities and organisations to take action and support people affected by dementia at this difficult time to keep them connected to their community in new and creative ways. Here are some of the key actions you can do today to make a difference to people’s lives: 

  • Set up community groups specifically to support of people who are self-isolating or in quarantine with care packages etc. 
  • Print off information about village network and support available and deliver to houses
  • Publish letters in local papers of key numbers of support/ordering food
  • Signpost for people affected by dementia to our Dementia Connect support line 0333 150 3456  for advice and support.

Dementia friendly rural communities guide

Our guidance is full of tips on how to become more dementia-friendly

Download your copy