Dementia friendly communities; compassionate and collaborative

Dr Fiona Marshall is a neuroscientist working on treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions. Dr Marshall also volunteers as an Alzheimer’s Research UK Trustee and is Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Heptares Therapeutics.

In recent years there have been major initiatives to change the way that society is able to respond to the growing number of people with dementia – we are aiming for “dementia friendly societies” where people with dementia and those who care for them are not alienated, or even merely tolerated, but enabled to sustain their local connections and lead meaningful lives. Living with dementia is often full of many challenges and can leave families isolated, lonely and exhausted; as a society we need to minimise these ongoing issues and promote valued connections within local communities.