Dementia | Provider Hub

Market Context

The Council provides social care support and services for adults with memory issues, cognitive impairment and dementia, as well as their carers and families. Support is available at all stages of the dementia journey.

We are committed to meeting the needs of the whole Essex community, ensuring that the lived experiences of people affected by dementia and their carers are central to the way services are designed, commissioned and delivered.

Commissioning is undertaken in partnership with colleagues across Essex County Council, providers and system partners. Our approach is informed by the Inclusive Essex principles of citizenship, choice and sustainability, and by our commitments within the Southend, Essex and Thurrock (SET) Dementia Strategy.

Commissioned Community Dementia Support Services are available to anyone living with or affected by dementia. These services support people to maintain wellbeing and independence and include access to the Dementia Support Line and information resources, alongside local provision such as home, community and hospital‑based support from specialist Dementia Advisers. Support is tailored to individual needs and circumstances and includes crisis prevention, support at times of crisis, discharge planning, and referrals into local health, social care and voluntary sector services. The offer also includes dedicated support for people with young onset dementia, carer support and education, community groups and activities (both in person and online), volunteering opportunities, and a strong focus on dementia awareness through the Essex Inclusive Dementia Communities programme. Together, these services cover the full dementia pathway, from early concerns through to end of life, providing timely, personalised and coordinated support across most of Essex.

About Dementia

Dementia is one of the greatest challenges facing health and social care. There is currently no cure, and treatment options are limited. Dementia changes lives, affecting individuals, families and communities across Essex. It is not restricted by age, gender or ethnicity.

Dementia is an umbrella term describing symptoms caused by diseases that affect the brain. It is a progressive condition, meaning symptoms worsen over time. People may experience difficulties with memory, thinking, judgement, language, orientation and everyday tasks such as washing, dressing and cooking. Dementia typically affects more than one area of daily life and increases dependence over time.

There are over 200 types of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common, accounting for around 60% of cases. Vascular dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies together account for a further 15–20%. Dementia is not a natural part of ageing. In people under 65 (young onset dementia), frontotemporal dementia is the most common, followed by Alzheimer’s disease. Rarer forms of dementia are more common in this age group and are often associated with more complex behaviours. Other conditions that can cause or contribute to dementia include Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, HIV, Korsakoff’s syndrome, Creutzfeldt‑Jakob disease, multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease. Some people experience mixed dementias.

Dementia has significant physical, psychological, social and economic impacts, not only on individuals but also on carers (particularly unpaid carers), families and communities. It is a major cause of disability and dependency among older people. In the UK, someone is diagnosed with dementia every three minutes, and around one in three people born today will develop dementia during their lifetime.

The Council provides both community and accommodation-based services for this cohort, via specific and framework contracts. Some contracts allow for providers to enter the market at set periods. For more information refer to the following services/contracts:

A financial assessment may be undertaken for adults who are in receipt of certain services. The adult can then choose to have either a managed service via one of the Council's contracts, or manage their own support via a direct payment, personal health budget or individual service fund, Further information on relevant Market Cohorts supporting People living with and affected by Dementia in Essex can be found HERE

Following extensive engagement with people living with dementia, carers and partners, the SET Dementia Strategy 2022–2026 was adopted in autumn 2022. The strategy aims to ensure that:

Those who experience dementia, and their families and carers feel they are understood and can access the support they need, when they need it.
That communities and local organisations are aware of the impact dementia has on those who experience it and their families and carers.
That support for people with dementia and their families and carers is underpinned by levels of training and expertise among professionals and volunteers.

And to further promote and enhance the conditions which will contribute to a reduction in prevalence and promoting health improvement in the long-term, recognising health inequalities and the wider determinants of health to promote better health outcomes for people across SET.

Key local data shows:

21,550 people aged 65+ in Essex have a diagnosis of dementia
Forecasts suggest almost 10,000 additional people aged 65+ with dementia in Essex over the next ten years if prevalence remains constant Projecting Older People Population Information System (POPPI)
Across Essex, Southend and Thurrock, there are an estimated 1,560 working‑age adults (under 65) living with dementia
Among adults supported by Adult Social Care in Essex:

3,400 have a dementia diagnosis
2,583 have identified cognitive impairment

Expressed as %ages - 38% of those we support in ASC having some level of cognitive need (1 in 3) with 27% specifically reporting Dementia or Alzheimer’s. The proportions are higher among people receiving domiciliary care (60%) and people living in a care home (65%).
64% of those diagnosed with Dementia are female and 70% are aged 80+ (48% are both female and aged 80+).

Old age dependency ratio: currently equivalent to 335.6 people aged 65+ being economically inactive to every 1,000 working age people. In Southend, this is 310. These are both higher than the national average and whilst this is lower in Thurrock, these are all predicted to increase.

Around 1 in 5 adults with a learning disability who are over the age of 65 will develop dementia.
People living with dementia who are over 65 have on average four comorbidities, while people without dementia have on average two and 91.8% of people living with dementia have another health condition.

Following extensive engagement with people living with dementia, carers and partners, the SET Dementia Strategy 2022–2026 was adopted in autumn 2022. The strategy aims to ensure that:

Those who experience dementia, and their families and carers feel they are understood and can access the support they need, when they need it.
That communities and local organisations are aware of the impact dementia has on those who experience it and their families and carers.
That support for people with dementia and their families and carers is underpinned by levels of training and expertise among professionals and volunteers.

Key local data shows:

21,550 people aged 65+ in Essex have a diagnosis of dementia
Forecasts suggest almost 10,000 additional people aged 65+ with dementia in Essex over the next ten years if prevalence remains constant Projecting Older People Population Information System (POPPI)
Across Essex, Southend and Thurrock, there are an estimated 1,560 working‑age adults (under 65) living with dementia
Among adults supported by Adult Social Care in Essex:

3,400 have a dementia diagnosis
2,583 have identified cognitive impairment

Expressed as %ages - 38% of those we support in ASC having some level of cognitive need (1 in 3) with 27% specifically reporting Dementia or Alzheimer’s. The proportions are higher among people receiving domiciliary care (60%) and people living in a care home (65%).
64% of those diagnosed with Dementia are female and 70% are aged 80+ (48% are both female and aged 80+).

Old age dependency ratio: currently equivalent to 335.6 people aged 65+ being economically inactive to every 1,000 working age people. In Southend, this is 310. These are both higher than the national average and whilst this is lower in Thurrock, these are all predicted to increase.

Around 1 in 5 adults with a learning disability who are over the age of 65 will develop dementia.
People living with dementia who are over 65 have on average four comorbidities, while people without dementia have on average two and 91.8% of people living with dementia have another health condition.

The Community Dementia Support Service (CDSS) aims to empower people affected by dementia, their carers and families by providing information, practical guidance and future planning support. The service supports people to manage day‑to‑day challenges and connects them to appropriate care and community resources.

The CDSS has seen a significant increase in the number of people reaching out for information and support throughout 2023 and this continues to date. The current countywide contract for Community Dementia Support is due to end in October 2028

Essex Market
Spend	£872,618
No of Providers	1
Quality	Not assessed

The information shown in the table(s) above is correct as of 1st April 2026.

Good progress has been made, but engagement with people living in Essex shows that further development is needed. Our ambition is for services and pathways that are inclusive, preventative and designed to maximise independence. This includes developing a flexible, local Community Dementia Support offer for residents, families and carers.

The ninth commitment of the SET Dementia Strategy reinforces this ambition, stating the intention to work with care markets to strengthen community connections and inclusion within long‑term care settings.

Current market risks:

A complex system that is difficult for people, carers and professionals to navigate, particularly where individuals have multiple conditions. Professionals, People living with/affected by dementia and carers find it challenging to navigate the health and social care systems. Where people are living with multiple conditions this can present additional challenges in access to appropriate care and support.
Limited availability of specialist Dementia Community Support providers Wider systems support is often not personalised enough and does not enable people to maintain their capabilities, interests or relationships.
The specific and long‑term needs of people of working age with dementia, who often require different support due to work, family and financial responsibilities. People may still be working, supporting families, paying mortgages, or caring for children. This means they usually need more intensive and longer‑term support. The impact on individuals, families and services is high, and without the right early and specialist support, there is a greater risk of crisis, poorer outcomes and higher long‑term costs for the system.
People in caring roles may not identify as a carer and so not access support available to them. Carers are also sometimes unable to access services which are prescriptive in their availability and timings. There are few support options available in the evenings, overnight and at weekends. The impact is mitigated through a virtual offer for people living with dementia and carers which is accessible 24/7.
The need for a greater understanding of the cost of care to support those living with dementia. Data does not support the NHS & Social Care systems to explicitly identify the cost of care services provided to support adults living with dementia, limiting organisations ability to share data/Insightsto understand the impact of dementia for organisations and improve and develop diagnosis and support pathways.
Workforce awareness & understanding of dementia, particularly around dementia awareness and complex care. Ensuring that the Adult Social Care Inclusive Essex vision and practice principles underpin the delivery, evaluation and development of Care and support for people living with Dementia, their Families and carers in Essex. Survey findings are HERE

Current market risks:

A complex system that is difficult for people, carers and professionals to navigate, particularly where individuals have multiple conditions. Professionals, People living with/affected by dementia and carers find it challenging to navigate the health and social care systems. Where people are living with multiple conditions this can present additional challenges in access to appropriate care and support.
Limited availability of specialist Dementia Community Support providers Wider systems support is often not personalised enough and does not enable people to maintain their capabilities, interests or relationships.
The specific and long‑term needs of people of working age with dementia, who often require different support due to work, family and financial responsibilities. People may still be working, supporting families, paying mortgages, or caring for children. This means they usually need more intensive and longer‑term support. The impact on individuals, families and services is high, and without the right early and specialist support, there is a greater risk of crisis, poorer outcomes and higher long‑term costs for the system.
People in caring roles may not identify as a carer and so not access support available to them. Carers are also sometimes unable to access services which are prescriptive in their availability and timings. There are few support options available in the evenings, overnight and at weekends. The impact is mitigated through a virtual offer for people living with dementia and carers which is accessible 24/7.
The need for a greater understanding of the cost of care to support those living with dementia. Data does not support the NHS & Social Care systems to explicitly identify the cost of care services provided to support adults living with dementia, limiting organisations ability to share data/Insightsto understand the impact of dementia for organisations and improve and develop diagnosis and support pathways.
Workforce awareness & understanding of dementia, particularly around dementia awareness and complex care. Ensuring that the Adult Social Care Inclusive Essex vision and practice principles underpin the delivery, evaluation and development of Care and support for people living with Dementia, their Families and carers in Essex. Survey findings are HERE

To continue to listen and gain insight into the lived experiences of people living with dementia, families and carers to help shape services and inform future commissioning decisions. This is currently being achieved through work with Community Development Coordinators and Dementia voices programme.
Working with providers to improve identification of dementia and access to support, through promotion and development of services to expand reach, improve understanding and awareness throughout care and support services.
Work with commissioned services, providers and partners to strengthen the capability and capacity to support individuals living with dementia to maintain or regain independence and enabling families and carers to act as advocates and actively be involved in the care and support for loved ones living with dementia.

Last updated: 01/04/2026

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