Live Well with Dementia in Greater Manchester – co-production for change at scale

Background: and context: Greater Manchester, in the north of England, is home to around 30,000 people living with dementia. Dementia United, the ICB’s integrated programme for dementia, brings together partners from health, care, and the community with a vision to become the best place to live for everyone affected by dementia.

People living with dementia often face barriers to doing the things that help us all stay happy and well, and it can be hard to access appropriate support.

 

In 2024, Dementia United collaborated with community partners and people with lived experience on an innovative process to co-design practical ways to strengthen care and support. Greater Manchester is now leading a programme to put these changes into practice.

This work is part of `Live Well,’ Mayor Andy Burnham’s flagship commitment to providing excellent everyday support in every neighbourhood.

 

Approach: Through interactive workshops involving people affected by dementia, frontline practitioners, managers, commissioners and voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise partners, we agreed areas to work on. These were: Dementia Hubs; Dementia Friendly Communities; Dementia Navigators; and Dementia Networks.

 

Result: This high-quality co-design work is driving momentum for change across Greater Manchester. We are making and evaluating region-wide changes in partnership with people affected by dementia, including the Dementia Carers Expert Reference Group. With the backing of the UK Centre for Improving Adult Social Care, we are accelerating the spread of Dementia Hubs and Dementia Navigators across six regions and applying international examples of effective practice.

 

Building on successful local models, Community Hubs provide vibrant, welcoming spaces where people affected by dementia can connect, socialise, and access tailored support. We are spreading this approach across Greater Manchester, ensuring more communities benefit. Hubs offer specialist advice, wellbeing activities, peer networks, and practical guidance, creating focal points for people and families to come together and thrive.

We are also defining and introducing the role of Dementia Navigators. Acting as local guides and advocates, Navigators help people affected by dementia and their families access the right services, connect with community resources, and navigate care pathways, with a vision to ensure that no one needs face dementia alone.

To reinforce these approaches, we are supporting neighbourhoods to become dementia friendly, embedding inclusive practices and dementia networks across communities.

 

Implications: Dementia United has a strong history of co-production and collaboration, including an established partnership with our Dementia Carers Expert Reference Group, voices of lived experience and a practitioner network. This builds on the strategic networks and relationships grown across our ten Greater Manchester localities. The Dementia United strategy, vision, and values, include personalisation, diversity and inclusivity and a shared commitment to quality improvement in all areas. We have a shared working group to ensure robust connections and continuity.

 

This strongly supports the profile and strategic cross-system momentum that comes with `Live Well.’ We are working in and with communities, with the voice and experience of people living with dementia at the centre, whilst supporting the drive for positive co-produced practical change at scale across Greater Manchester.