TIDWORTH has pledged to become a dementia-friendly community area which will help people with the condition live independently for longer.

People attending the Tidworth Area Board meeting at Wellington Academy on Monday agreed that people with dementia should be able to stay at home for longer and carry out day-to-day tasks independently for as long as possible in a ‘dementia-friendly community’.

The decision was made as people attending the meeting were asked to consider how they would make a difference in their communities as part of the Big Pledge initiative. This is being launched on 2 April, but area boards are being asked to consider setting their own pledge early.

Dementia-friendly community areas would bring together key people who can help those affected to remain living within their local community.

An example could be trained taxi drivers and supermarket workers helping the resident carry out certain relevant daily tasks.