This document discusses a "Fab Change Day" event focused on making positive changes to better support those with dementia. It notes that dementia affects both health and social care, and that more accessibility is needed. The approach involves low-cost, high-impact community changes to improve lives. Suggested quick wins include learning about each individual with dementia, visiting a dementia resource zone, and ensuring no one misses a meal. Longer-term goals include empowering those with dementia, reviewing documentation for sensitive language, and opening dementia training to caregivers. The document encourages sharing actions on social media to continue the conversation.

1. DementiaDo
Fab Change Day
Doathon Report

2. What is the issue?
• Dementia can’t be pigeon-holed
into health or social care.
• It’s a cognitive disability, so we
need to build ramps.
• There is no recognised sign or
symbol to indicate dementia.
• Dementia carries a stigma – how
might we break free and talk
openly about it?
• Our dementia language is negative
and unhelpful.

3. Our approach
#DementiaDO is about low/no cost high impact
changes involving the whole community in making life
better for people with dementia & their carers. Read
more in this blog.
Change doesn’t have to cost – a welcoming smile and
a handshake can mean so much but costs nothing!
We can’t afford to repaint our hospital in dementia-
appropriate colour schemes & principles now, but we
can commit to doing next time we redecorate.
We can’t make all our policies & procedures dementia-
inclusive overnight either but we can tackle them one
at a time, when they come up for their ‘review-by’
date.

4. Our Quick win DOs
• Know the person with dementia - #hellothisisme.
Commit to a pilot in your Trust / ward / area
• Visit the Academy of Fab Stuff dementia zone –
terrific projects of all sizes and types
• Create a campaign in your area to commit to “no
person living with dementia will miss a meal in my
unit”. Explore the idea of Dining Companions.
Involve local volunteers and managers to join in
• Join the Dementia Action Alliance

5. Our longer term DOs
• Hear the voices of those living with dementia & their
carers.
• Create a strategy group or join existing.
• Commit to being a core member.
• Sign up to John’s Campaign.
• Clear out the Clutter:
• Review all dementia documentation for negative
language (e.g. dementia patient rather than
‘person living with dementia’).
• Review falls policy for use of restraints, bed rails
etc for people with dementia.
• Open up dementia training to carers.
• Visit DementiaDo.
• Read dementia initiatives that work and get inspired

6. Now:
take action
• Share with friends on social media: post
a link on Facebook or Twitter
• Share with colleagues: do a
presentation
• Be part of the conversation, use the
#DementiaDo and #hellothisisme
hashtags to keep the conversation
going.
• Contact us and let us know what you’ve
done on the Fab Change Day website.
Get more information and inspiration at
https://fabnhsstuff.net/