Reaching Underserved Communities: A Partnership Between ADSS and the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara
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Parallel 4.3 : Carers and Families |
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Green Room |
Karen Heath
Dementia Wellbeing Manager
Alzheimer's & Dementia Support Services
Summary
Alzheimer’s & Dementia Support Services (ADSS), Kent’s largest independent specialist dementia charity, has partnered with the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Gravesend to deliver culturally appropriate support to the Sikh community—an underserved group in dementia care. Through twice-monthly Memory Café sessions at the newly reopened Guru Nanak Wellbeing Centre, the initiative combines dementia expertise with deep cultural understanding to overcome barriers to diagnosis, support, and engagement. With support from volunteer translators and Dementia Coordinators, attendees receive information, advice, and one-to-one guidance in a trusted community setting. This co-produced model has already supported individuals like BK, who faced language and access challenges prior to receiving a diagnosis and care plan. The project exemplifies ADSS’s mission to reduce health inequalities and ensure everyone—regardless of background—can live well with dementia. Early outcomes show increased engagement, improved quality of life, and growing community awareness, highlighting the power of local, inclusive partnerships.