Stoke-on-Trent City Council's dementia care services were viewed as part of a national review into the future of adult social care services. 

Representatives from Baroness Casey's Independent Commission on Adult Social Care visited the city to look at a range of new services delivered in partnership with healthcare providers, including North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust, the Alzheimer's Society and Dougie Mac. 

This includes new models of care, early intervention and an approach which aims to make local communities more sustainable and inclusive for people with dementia. 

The visit forms part of the Casey Commissioners' work across the country to plan what kind of adult social care services are needed for the UK going forward, with the aim of establishing a national care service. 

The commissioners visited Marrow House, in Longton, where the council's preventative and early intervention approach to supporting people with dementia is part of a number of developments locally planned to improve the lives of local citizens. 

They also learned how the city council is now using a nationally recognised service called Shared Lives to support people with dementia by keeping them connected to people and places they love. 

Councillor Lynn Watkins and the Casey Commission team with Marrow House resident Margaret, 91 (image via Stoke-on-Trent City Council)

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has explained that its Shared Lives scheme has been running for seven years and currently matches 22 people with a learning disability to 35 Shared Lives carers who have opened their homes and lives, in a set up like fostering, but for adults with more independence. 

Now, the city council is one of a handful of local authorities who are part of a national pilot called 'Live More' to test and evaluate whether a preventive offer of Shared Lives support offered during the daytime, evening or weekend for people with dementia can help them to stay well for longer, maintain their independence, and delay the need for more formal social care. 

The Council explained that the aim of the programme, run by Shared Lives Plus for Greater Manchester ADASS, is to improve lives and reduce pressures on the health and social care system. 

Together people spend time each week doing things they both enjoy such as a walk in the park, watching sports, dancing or simply catching up over a brew. 

Cllr Lynn Watkins, cabinet member for adult social care and all-age commissioning at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "We are delighted to welcome members of the Baroness Casey Independent Commission team to Stoke-on-Trent to see first-hand the pioneering approach we are taking to supporting people with dementia. 

"We are taking major steps forward in the way we provide rehabilitation care – through groundbreaking facilities like Marrow House, which I visited recently for Dementia support training myself - and through the better use of technology to support people. 

"We are also proud and delighted to be part of the pilot to extend Shared Lives to help people living with dementia experience the most independent lives possible. 

"This proactive approach, delivered with a range of partners across the city, is making a real difference for the 3,000 plus people living with dementia in Stoke-on-Trent and is reflected in the recent Good rating we received during the Care Quality Commission's assessment of our adult social care services." 

As part of the visit, representatives of the Casey Commission visited Shared Lives carers, Denice and Paul Condliffe, who opened their home and lives for the past five years to Gaynor and Chris, who has recently had a diagnosis of dementia. 

Ewan King, CEO of Shared Lives Plus said, "We are delighted that people living with dementia in Stoke-on-Trent will have the opportunity to take part in this groundbreaking new form of Shared Lives, doing things they love, with people they can get to know over the long term to strengthen their connections in places they love."