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Sign in or register for an accountDementia is a growing public health challenge in the UK, affecting over 850,000 individuals, a number that is expected to rise significantly in the coming years. Moreover, whilst people associate dementia with older people but there are more than 40,000 people in the UK under the age of 65 affected by this condition. Dementia costs society £34.77 billion a year in the UK and this cost is set to rise as the population ages. However, the impact of dementia extends beyond the individuals diagnosed, affecting families, caregivers, and communities, placing a substantial burden on healthcare systems. Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia was the underlying cause in 68,000 deaths in England and Wales in 2024, 12% of all deaths.
Tackling dementia through increased funding for research, support services, and care infrastructure is crucial not only to improve the quality of life for those affected but also to reduce the long-term societal and economic costs. Prioritising dementia care and research (including analysis and insight) today is essential for ensuring a healthier, more sustainable future for the ageing population and for reducing the burden on NHS.
One way to measure the performance of the healthcare system in the UK regarding dementia is by comparing the estimated percentage of people aged 65 and older who may have dementia with the percentage of those who have actually received a formal diagnosis. This comparison helps find gaps in diagnosis and assess the effectiveness of dementia awareness and diagnostic efforts. The current benchmark for diagnosis is set at 66.7%. Since 2017, Salford has consistently outperformed this target and the national average, with the median diagnosis rate between 2017 and 2024 being 78% for Salford compared to 65% nationally. In 2024, Salford achieved the highest diagnosis rate among its statistical neighbours, with 80% of people diagnosed, compared to the 70% average for those neighbours. According to data provided from the NHS in February 2025 Salford also had the highest diagnosis rate (80%) in Greater Manchester (75% average).
Salford’s estimated dementia diagnosis rate has improved since 2021 and is significantly better than the national rate.
[Download the emergency admission falls date for 65 years and over, csv format, 1kb]
Age is the biggest risk factor for dementia, around a third of people in their nineties having a diagnosis of dementia. There is also a genetic risk, which can raise the chance of getting dementia, but having one of these genes does not mean a person will get dementia. The 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia prevention identified 14 modifiable risk factors for preventing dementia, which could cumulatively reduce the worldwide cases of dementia by 45%. In early age, reversing low levels of education could cut dementia by 5%. In midlife, hearing loss and high LDL cholesterol account for 7% each, with other health conditions and behavioural factors such as physical activity, smoking obesity and excessive alcohol consumption also listed. Late life contributory factors are social isolation (5%), air pollution (3%) and visual loss (2%).
Another measure used to assess healthcare system performance for dementia in the UK is the prevalence rate of dementia among the 65+ age group (as a percentage of the population) and among under 65-year-olds (measured per 10,000 population). However, data for these measures is only available up until 2020 for Salford and 2024 nationally, making it difficult to compare Salford’s performance over time with national trends. Between 2017 and 2020, the dementia prevalence rate for over-65s in Salford was slightly higher than the national rate (around 5.0% in Salford compared to 4.9% nationally). Both rates fell in 2020, with Salford at 4.2% and the national rate at 4.0%. For under 65-year-olds, Salford's rate per 10,000 population was higher than the national rate in 2017 (4.4% vs. 3.6%), but from 2018 to 2020, Salford's rate was either similar to or lower than the national average, reaching a lower point in 2020.
Furthermore, data available at the Primary Care Network (PCN) level, primarily focuses on the number of people with dementia registered on the QOF register, the average age of diagnosis, and the percentage of patients with a dementia diagnosis within each PCN. In 2025, Salford has over 1,900 people on the QOF register with dementia, placing it in the mid-range compared to other areas in Greater Manchester, but second highest percentage of registered patients aged over-65s with a dementia diagnosis at 4.9%. Notably, the highest number of people on the QOF register with a dementia diagnosis is in the Care Homes Medical Practice, with two-thirds of the practice’s patients (738), accounting for 38% of all older people with a diagnosis in Salford.
NICE guidance on dementia recommends prevention through awareness raising in behaviour change programmes in mid-life. Early, specialist diagnosis is also recommended followed by advanced care planning and other activities to improve wellbeing and quality of life for those diagnosed with dementia.
Salford Memory and Assessment Teams (MATS), part of GMMH NHS Trust and based at Woodlands Hospital, is the city’s primary service for dementia assessment, diagnosis, and post-diagnostic support. It offers a multidisciplinary, person-centred approach, including clinic and home visits, with initial assessments completed within four to six weeks. The service supports people of all ages, including those with learning disabilities, and provides early intervention through a Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) pathway. Post-diagnostic support includes dementia advisor input, education sessions, Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST), and tailored carer support.
MATS initiates dementia medication oversees follow-up for two years and offers a six-month rapid re-access period after discharge. The service includes the Open Doors community offer and contributes to Salford’s high dementia diagnosis rates by promoting early access and holistic care.
Open Doors supports people living with dementia and their families through co-produced, community-based services. The programme enhances mental health, wellbeing, and social connection through meaningful activity, therapeutic groups, and peer support.
Operating across community settings and inpatient services at Woodlands Hospital, Open Doors offers a range of groups including:
Open Doors plays a key role in sustaining engagement, promoting inclusion, and shaping future dementia services in Salford.
Age UK Salford and Trafford is committed to empowering families affected by dementia to live as well as they can. In Salford, the Dementia Support Service offer practical support, workshops and communication training for individuals, families and carers to assist with memory loss or a dementia diagnosis. More in-depth dementia focused therapeutic support is available through Empowered Carers. For people living with dementia, the team run several friendship groups, a fortnightly Dementia Café, a social club (mild to moderate dementia) and a day care option (moderate to advanced dementia). The city-wide programme is made up of a combination of commissioned, funded and charged for support options.
Aspire is a leading provider of dementia support services in Salford, offering bespoke care and support to individuals, families and carers living with dementia. We offer a range of services, including dementia day care opportunities, residential care, carer support and social groups.
The Humphrey Booth Community Hub Located in Swinton, the Humphrey Booth Community Hub provides a safe, inclusive space for people living with dementia, older adults, care partners, people with learning disabilities, and volunteers. The hub promotes social inclusion, wellbeing, and practical support through free weekday activities and the on-site Forget Me Not café.
Poppy Dementia Day Support offers structured, person-centred day care for people with dementia, including creative activities, outings, and a drop-in respite service for carers. Open Monday to Friday, access is via social care referral or self-funding.
The local Dementia Steering group is a multidisciplinary team focussed on delivering an inclusive dementia care improvement plan that addresses identified service gaps and aligns with Greater Manchester Dementia and Brain Health Delivery Plan. The group meets bi-monthly to oversee key actions and priorities, ensuring progress is made across the dementia care pathway.
Salford’s Dementia Provider Forum is a collaborative network of dementia service providers committed to making Salford a dementia friendly city. It promotes integrated, person centred care by sharing expertise, supporting innovation, and aligning services to improve health and wellbeing outcomes.
The Care Homes Medical Practice is a unique General Practice providing medical care to older people living in residential and nursing homes within Salford.
The Dementia Clinical Nurse Specialist plays a key role by: