Strengthening Dementia Support in Shetland
Earlier this month, colleagues from across Age Scotland’s dementia team travelled to Shetland to meet with local groups, unpaid carers and people living with dementia.
Over two days the team hosted workshops, visited community activities and spent time listening to people’s experiences of living well with dementia in an island setting. The visit was a chance to share learning, strengthen partnerships and shine a light on the unique challenges and strengths of rural communities.
As part of the trip our dementia team launched the CONSOLIDATE engagement workshops, hosting a session for professionals working in dementia care and meeting carers at Alzheimer Scotland’s Dementia Resource Centre in Lerwick. They also joined the Community Connections café and spoke with carers and people living with young onset dementia.
Our Dementia Friendly Communities (DFC) Officer met with five local groups, some already part of the DFC network and others who joined during the visit. Conversations explored issues such as the cost of living crisis, rural transport challenges, the impact of depopulation on family support and gaps in the national dementia strategy when it comes to addressing rural barriers. Despite these challenges, it was inspiring to see the creativity and commitment of groups working to support people locally.
Meanwhile, our Grants team spent time with Shetland Community Connections, who receive funding through Age Scotland’s Encouraging and Supporting Grassroots Activity (ESGA) fund. Their work includes home visits, reminiscence and art sessions, transport support, and community groups that help reduce isolation across multiple islands. The visit highlighted how a relatively small grant can make a wide impact, particularly in very remote communities such as Yell and Unst.
Jane Haswell, Manager at Shetland Community Connections, said:
“We were delighted to welcome Age Scotland to Shetland and share how our work is centred on individuals, their families, and their wishes. It was especially important for participants to share directly the difference this funding makes. As a small charity, having this kind of personal connection with our funders is so valuable and we truly appreciated the visit.”
A clear message emerged throughout our visit. Local, person-centred approaches rooted in trust and community knowledge are vital to supporting people affected by dementia in Shetland. Age Scotland is proud to work alongside these groups and will continue to ensure their voices shape our national work.
You can find out more about all of our dementia work here.
