While work on a regional strategy for dementia care continues Ceredigion councillors want a more detailed look at what services are available locally.

Ceredigion County Council’s healthier communities overview and scrutiny committee has asked for a detailed report on dementia care and support services currently operating in the county for future analysis.

At its meeting on Thursday (October 27) councillors discussed a report on a regional dementia strategy that has been developed by the West Wales Care Partnership (WWCP).

A plan for its implementation is to be developed using the “high level” strategy that meets national polices and Welsh Government guidelines to work on “integrating and transforming health, care and support in the region.”

Cabinet member for through age and well being Cllr Alun Williams said that it had also been informed by the recent west Wales population assessment that indicates the number of elderly residents is set to increase over the coming years.

Cllr Williams outlined the strategy, and how it was developed in collaboration with statutory, third and independent sectors as well as “local communities and individuals affected by dementia.”

Alzheimer’s Society UK estimates that dementia affects one in six people over 80 and in west Wales records show one in ten people over 85 have dementia, with potentially nearly 2,500 undiagnosed patients across Hywel Dda, the committee heard.

The key areas of focus including strategies to achieve early diagnosis, implementing care pathways, supporting carers to look after family members and improving end of life care.

Donna Pritchard, corporate lead officer for Porth Ceredigion, told the committee about six workstreams currently underway that focused on community engagement, memory assessment services, dementia wellbeing connectors, dementia friendly hospitals, workforce development and measurement of effectiveness.

There were a number of questions raised about the residential provision currently available, as well as what is accessible via day services and centres, and it was agreed that a more detailed report on the current situation be provided.

Members were told that review of day centres was to be carried out while an overall assessment of “what have we got, what do we need” to deliver the strategy was also required.

Day centres had be “severely impacted” during the pandemic, the committee was told, and although it provided a chance to make improvement works to some, there are others that require refurbishment.

A delivery plan for the regional strategy is due to be developed by Spring next year, the committee heard, with a work programme for the next three to five years.