A TOWN council is set to declare itself “dementia friendly” and hopes to enlist the backing of local residents to become one of the first communities in North Yorkshire to promote awareness and help.

Councillors in Bedale are set to become Dementia Friends and are planning to hold a public meeting in the town to encourage local businesses and people to get involved.

Deputy Mayor Cllr Malcolm Young said: “Bedale is a very friendly place anyway, but we want to make it official that for people with dementia and their carers it’s a caring and welcoming place. This is a wonderful idea and something we are really keen to build upon, to look at the bigger picture.

“We want to make people more aware and perhaps get some signs in windows so people can see that we are dementia aware and that there is an understanding of the potential problems.”

Cllr Carol Clark added:”It will set the tone for the town for councillors to become Dementia Friends, and show that we are keen to develop a town that is considerate to people with disabilities. Then we can hold an open meeting for businesses and anyone who is interested in having an input into making the town dementia friendly.

“We are looking at marketing Bedale so people will say this town is worth coming into because we will be treated in a friendly and caring manner.”

Nearly a third of the 3,000 residents of Bedale are aged over 60, with nearly 500 over 74. Across North Yorkshire the elderly population is expected to increase in the next ten years, with the number of over 65s is expected to go up from 125,000 out of a population of 600,000 now, to 160,000 by 2025.

The Alzheimers Society has welcomed the move. The charity is encouraging towns and villages to join their Dementia Friendly Communities Programme which focuses on improving awareness and quality of life for people with dementia and their carers.

Communications officer Rob Stewart said: "This is great news for everyone who has a connection to dementia because the town council’s initiative means that people will be able to live well within their own community thanks to the greater awareness of the condition that this will entail.

“Bedale is a fabulous place and the fact that the town councillors want to make it dementia-friendly will be music to the ears of everyone who cares about dementia."

For more information go to alzheimers.org.uk