LGBT people with dementia to get more tailored support

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people living with dementia will be able to access tailored help, information and support for themselves and their family, due to the Guinness Partnership joining forces with the LGBT Foundation’s ‘Bring Dementia Out’ project.

The initiative ‘Bring Dementia Out’ was created by the LGBT Foundation, with partners including the Alzheimer’s Society, the National Dementia Action Alliance, the National LBG&T Partnership and Switchboard.

The housing and care provider, Guinness Partnership will be helping to extend an outreach programme enabling LGBT people with dementia to access tailored support.

Guinness Partnership has already been working on creating more dementia-friendly environments as well as dementia awareness training for staff, contractors and customers.

They now want to also focus on supporting LGBT people living with dementia. Catriona Simons, chief executive of Guinness, said: “We are committed to improving the lives of our residents, their families and the wider communities we serve. We are delighted to be part of this vital project to support LGBT people living with dementia.

“We look forward to enabling stronger relationships to be built between the LGBT community and both the dementia and housing sectors, to help minimise isolation and eliminate discrimination, and to ensure all people can freely access the support they need.”

Paul Martin, chief executive of LGBT Foundation, added: “We’re incredibly proud to be partnering for this new initiative. We know that LGBT people’s experiences of dementia are under-recognised and often totally overlooked, they may be facing discrimination due to their sexual orientation or gender identity and are at an increased risk of social isolation.

“We believe that all LGBT people living with dementia have the right to an excellent quality of life, and look forward to amplifying their voices and working to end the many inequalities they face. The work of Bring Dementia Out is vitally important and will change the lives of LGBT people affected by dementia and their families.”