LANGPORT Area Dementia Action Alliance (Langport DAA) will launch its safe places scheme later today (Thursday, October 5).

The recently formed alliance - a consortium of care homes, businesses, organisations and individuals in the Langport area - will work pro-actively with the police to provide safe places where anyone living with dementia can be taken if they get lost in the town.

At present, they would normally be taken to a police station, so this will provide them, under police protection, with a local place of safety where they can be looked after by professionals until a carer can collect them.

It will also provide a single point of contact for carers or family members searching for someone who may be lost.

Care Homes taking part in the initiative are Immacolata House, owned by N. Notaro Homes Ltd, Portcullis House, owned by Somerset Care and Ashley House Care Home.

There has been a stall at the local Tesco supermarket throughout the day, to inform the general public about the initiative, and a launch event at 6pm in the Beaufort Room of the Langport Arms Hotel, where local retailers, businesses and organisations can hear details of the scheme and learn more about the problems of those living with dementia.

Langport DAA has been set up with the aim of "making the Langport area a friendly and welcoming place for those living with dementia and their carers".

It has already successfully participated in several local events to spread its message.

It is part of the nationwide Dementia Action Alliance, supported by The Alzheimer’s Society which has an office in Langport.

Creating greater awareness of the problems people living with dementia face - it’s not simply losing your memory - is important if the community is to adapt to the increasing number affected by the disease.

Carers, too, need the reassurance that the place where they shop, eat, visit the doctor, dentist, hairdresser or optician, will respect their needs and provide space and time to deal with, at times, unpredictable customers.

Langport is a local hub community and a tourist destination with a reputation of being home to many creative and innovative businesses, so it’s appropriate that it takes a step towards adapting to this growing need.

Shops and businesses will be provided with window stickers to show their support of the alliance and prominent posters and stickers are planned to promote the safe places scheme.

Langport DAA is extremely grateful to the businesses of the area that have sponsored our efforts so far, and for the support and encouragement of local residents.

Anyone wishing to contact the Alliance can do so by email at langportdaa@gmail.com.

The Langport DAA is responding to the Prime Minister's Challenge on Dementia with its Safe Places Initiative, ensuring that people living with dementia and their families are supported to live well in Langport and the surrounding areas.