Why This Policy Brief Matters

Dementia is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the UK. By 2040, it is estimated that 1.4 million people will be living with the condition. Behind these numbers are individuals, families, and communities whose lives are profoundly shaped by the availability and quality of care and support. Yet many people still face significant inequalities in accessing dementia care. These inequalities are particularly pronounced for those who need greater support, including people from ethnically diverse communities, those living in socioeconomically deprived areas, people living alone, and people with advanced dementia or multiple long-term conditions. Reducing these inequalities requires more than improving services in isolation. Dementia care spans health, social care, mental health, and palliative care, and meaningful progress depends on better coordination across these systems.

A Brief Shaped Through Co-production

The policy brief, launched in Parliament, was created through a process of co-production across the EMPOWER Network since 2024. We worked with community organisations, people with dementia, carers, researchers, and practitioners to explore what excellent and inclusive dementia care looks like to those who are directly affected. Through co-creation workshops across the UK, more than 170 people shared their experiences of navigating care systems, the barriers they encounter, and the changes they believe are needed. These insights helped shape a shared vision for more equitable dementia care.

Building on this work, the EMPOWER Network held a Policy Lab in March 2025 in partnership with the Policy Institute at King’s College London. The Policy Lab brought together people with lived experience of dementia, practitioners, researchers, and policymakers to address the question:

“How can we reduce the worst inequalities in care for people with dementia, and their families, needing greater support?”

Participants reviewed research evidence and examples from community organisations already working to tackle inequalities. They then worked in groups to identify practical actions that could help improve care and reduce disparities.

Next Steps

The priorities raised through the Policy Lab and set out in the policy brief are being taken forward through the EMPOWER Small Research Project Fund. We have funded several projects (to be announced soon) that respond directly to these areas and calls to action, each developed in partnership with researchers, community organisations, and lived experts. Moreover, one of EMPOWER’s sub-projects is working with the South Asian community to make dementia care more culturally appropriate, supported through One King’s Impact funding. Another project funded through the network is exploring how tools like the Integrated Palliative Outcome Scale for Dementia (IPOS-Dem) can help people with dementia and their carers make informed decisions and access the right care at the right time. 

By continuing to centre the voices of people directly affected by dementia and by bringing together diverse expertise across sectors, we can move closer to a future where everyone living with dementia is able to access care that prioritises their dignity and supports them to live well.