Dementia Advisor Service

In 2015 there were 3,247 people estimated to have a dementia in Plymouth which is 1% of the total Plymouth population or 6.4% of the over 65s population. 62 people are estimated to have early onset dementia, defined as people under the age of 65. By 2030 the number of people with early onset dementia is predicted to remain stable, but there will be a steep increase for late onset dementia increasing to 4,855 by 2030.
Historically, the majority of diagnoses of dementia have taken place at a consultant appointment following a nurse assessment at the Memory Service. However, in Plymouth the direction of travel is to move the straightforward diagnosis into primary care teams with support from the Memory Service, with a smaller number seeing a consultant.
Post-diagnosis support is primarily the responsibility of the Dementia Advisor Service, supported by a range of both commissioned and non-commissioned provision across the city and the Dementia Friendly City initiative.