West Yorkshire Combined Authority has announced that a new dementia-ready criteria has been agreed upon, to enable people to live in their own homes for longer.
Put together by the Dementia-Ready Housing Taskforce – which was established in March 2022- the new criteria will support those who are living with dementia and ensure that all new homes are more suitable.
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin commented:
“Living with dementia shouldn’t mean losing your home, community, or dignity. We want people in West Yorkshire to live happier and healthier lives, so making homes dementia-ready means as people get older, they can remain independent in a supportive environment for longer.
“These simple but effective measures are testament to our work to ensure that we have high-quality housing across the region that meets the needs of our people and communities.
“Together, with our partners, we’re dedicated to building a stronger, more vibrant West Yorkshire that works for all.”
The criteria is formed of ten measures that make homes easier to live in for those with dementia, such as:
- An easily identifiable front door
- Step-free access to all doors
- Internal decoration that avoids confusion
- An easy-to-locate bathroom
- Bathroom locks that support rescue
- Good natural lighting in all rooms
- Nature views in at least one room
- Outdoor access
- Amenities and other homes within 1km
- A dementia champion sitting within the housing organisation.
Before being elected as Mayor, Brabin pledged the dementia housing taskforce as part of plans to ensure that the quality of housing for people with dementia is improved. Further plans for dementia-ready homes were then endorsed at the combined authority’s Place, Regeneration, and Housing committee at the end of February.
CEO of Connect Housing and Chair of the Dementia Ready Taskforce, Helen Lennon, added:
“Putting people at the heart of the decisions we make will have a better result for people’s wellbeing and health.
“These measures show that in West Yorkshire, we’re putting in place long-term plans to make housing truly accessible for all and build stronger, happier communities.
“While this will have a positive impact for people living with dementia, it will also benefit people living with a disability or a long-term condition as well as their carers.”
Image credit: iStock
