"The last twelve months have brought us a string of great news for the dementia sector here in Waitaha / Canterbury and around the motu! " says Dr Croucher. He highlights that

• A national bicultural Dementia Mate Wareware Action Plan was adopted by government and the sector last September.
• Cabinet formally approved it in November, financial support was announced in the government’s Budget in May.
• The Dementia Leadership Group has been formed this September, supported by the appointment of the New Zealand Dementia Foundation to facilitate its work together with the whole sector.

Dr Croucher says that these acheivements represent that "Government and the sector (that includes us in Te Whatu Ora – Waitaha) have come together in a way that many people at the coal face of dementia service delivery have been dreaming of for years."

As Dr Croucher emphasises that dementia is everybody’s business.  If you like to be a part of setting the agenda for the future of dementia, then join the Dementia Network to find out when the next meeting is being held, and to recive email updates. Join here