Dementia

In Cheshire West and Chester, forecasts using 2018 mid-year estimates predict that the number of people aged 65 or above will increase by 44 percent from 72,900 in 2018, to almost 105,000 in 2038. By 2038, 28 percent of Cheshire West and Chester residents will be aged 65 or older (21 percent in 2018) (1).

The number of people in Cheshire West and Chester aged 85 or above will more than double, increasing from 9,400 in 2018, to around 19,400 in 2038 (1).

We recognise that there may also be an increase in people living with dementia. The strategy looks to the next two years by defining our principles and shaping our priorities. Building upon the dementia work that has taken place since 2017 and considering the impact of COVID-19 on our ageing population. Our priorities focus on the planning, commissioning, delivery, and review of local services so that people living with dementia and their families are better supported. The strategy highlights the measures we can take to prevent and delay the onset of dementia so that our residents have the support they need to live a long, healthy, independent life.

The strategy also has a clear relationship with other strategic and operational plans across the borough:

• Cheshire West Place Plan (2020-24) - developed by the Council and local NHS, that sets out a vision for the health and well-being of our residents.
• Cheshire West and Chester’s Borough Plan (2024-28) - enabling local people to flourish, be healthy, happy and independent for longer in supportive communities.
• All Age Carers’ Strategy (2021-26) – joint strategy by the Council and Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group that focuses on carers of all ages and backgrounds to feel valued, empowered and have access to the right support at the right time.
• Cheshire West and Chester Ageing Well Accommodation and Support Strategy (2022-2026) – focuses on helping our residents to stay independent for longer and enabling them to make an informed decision on the care and support services they may need.
• Cheshire West and Chester Climate Emergency Response Plan – how we can all as residents, and organisations, individually and collectively act to reduce the detrimental effects of climate change in the way we deliver services and live our lives.
• CORE20PLUS5 – a national approach to reducing healthcare inequalities which is informing action at a national and system level. This approach focuses on reducing inequalities in access, experience and outcomes for a target population (the ‘Core20PLUS’) and ‘5’ focus clinical areas requiring accelerated improvement.

Strategies within the Health Improvement Strategy (2024-26) – healthy eating and being active, smoking, alcohol, and drugs misuse, and falls prevention – that all focus on reducing health inequalities and improving the health and wellbeing of people in the borough, enabling our residents to live more fulfilling, independent and healthy lives.