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ºüÀêÊÓƵ the Association for Dementia Studies

Built on a strong foundation partnership between the ºüÀêÊÓƵ of Worcester, NHS Worcestershire, Worcestershire County Council, and the national charity Dementia UK it now has a national and international reach as a centre of excellence in research and education in person-centred dementia care delivered by a multi-professional group of educationalists, researchers and practitioners who are expert in the field of person-centred dementia care and support. 

Our aim is to make a substantial contribution to building evidence-based practical ways of working with people living with dementia and their families that enables them to live well. We do this primarily through research, education and scholarship.

We are committed to a person-centred approach in all our work. This is our ethical code that values all people as unique individuals, is respectful of the perspective of different standpoints, and recognises the interdependence of all of us. We are committed to raising awareness, challenging stigma and improving quality of life and wellbeing. We work from an evidence-based international perspective. We work in partnership with health and social care providers, commissioners, charities, educational bodies and government agencies. All income we earn from our work is ploughed back into ADS. We are not about making a profit, we are about making a difference.

We are committed to a person-centred approach in all our work. This is our ethical code that values all people as unique individuals, is respectful of the perspective of different standpoints, and recognises the interdependence of all of us.

Professor Dawn Brooker, Founder of ADS

ADS is a signatory to the National Dementia Declaration, a call to action based on the following ambitious and achievable outcomes for how people with dementia and their families are supported by society:

• We have the right to be recognised as who we are, to make choices about our lives including taking risks, and to contribute to society. Our diagnosis should not define us, nor should we be ashamed of it.
• We have the right to continue with day-to-day and family life without discrimination or unfair cost, to be accepted and included in our communities and not live in isolation or loneliness.
• We have the right to an early and accurate diagnosis, and to receive evidence based, appropriate, compassionate and properly funded care and treatment, from trained people who understand us and how dementia affects us. This must meet our needs, wherever we live.
• We have the right to be respected, and recognised as partners in care, provided with education, support, services, and training which enables us to plan and make decisions about the future.
• We have the right to know about and decide if we want to be involved in research that looks at cause, cure and care for dementia and be supported to take part.

We also recognise dementia as a worldwide challenge and work from and contribute to the international evidence base of dementia care. We therefore welcome initiatives such as the G8 dementia summit which brought together ministers, researchers, pharmaceutical companies and charities from around the world and which led to the formation of the .