Glasgow has been pinpointed as one of the best cities in the world for dealing with dementia, according to a worldwide study.
Scotland’s biggest city which sees two people diagnosed with dementia every day, was ranked second out of 30 global cities for dementia innovation in the expert report. London came top.
It highlighted Glasgow City Council’s dementia strategy published in 2016 which it said “offers a template for cities looking to improve early detection and diagnosis.”
The initiative uncovered a number of priority areas to tackle, including reducing stigma, improving the physical environment, increasing social engagement, and providing the resources for people living with dementia to continue living in the community.
But the new Dementia Innovation Readiness Index 2020 compiled by the Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA), Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) and the Lien Foundation gave recognition to the city “explicitly recognising” diagnosis of dementia as “critical”.
“Additionally, Glasgow’s plan argues that when people receive an early diagnosis of dementia and are met with information, support, and care, they are better supported in managing the condition throughout its progression,” the study said.
“To develop its plan, Glasgow solicited feedback from patients, care-givers, volunteers, and healthcare providers to help craft a three-year dementia action plan.
Glasgow was ranked second in dementia innovation in the study which examines the level to which each city is prepared to innovate in terms of novel approaches, systems, or processes that would have an impact on the prevention, treatment, or care of dementia.
The report examines 26 indicators across five categories of innovation readiness – strategy/commitment, early detection/diagnosis, access to care, community support and business environment.
The report found that Glasgow scored well out of the 30 cities represented in the report at an overall score of 7.8 out of 10. Glasgow scored particularly highly in the areas of community support, and strategy and commitment.
Alzheimer’s Scotland chief executive Henry Simmons, says that Glasgow’s dementia initiative offers a template for cities looking to improve early detection and diagnosis.
“As part of its city plan, Glasgow explicitly recognizes diagnosis of dementia as a critical point for providers, people living with dementia, and their loved ones, and that diagnosis is a key enabler of resources for disease management, treatment, and care,” says Simmons. “That being said, no city is perfect and there’s always room for improvement.”
Glasgow, however, were in the bottoms half in the area of providing incentives, policies and protections within the business environment, which Mr Simmons says should be a focus area for the city going forward.