A NEW community-led report has shed light on the realities of living with dementia in Salisbury, highlighting both gaps in support and the quiet strength of services already working across the city.

Published this week by Safer and Supportive Salisbury (SaSS), the Dementia Research Report 2025 draws together the experiences of people living with dementia, their carers and the professionals who support them.

The aim, SaSS says, is not just to identify problems, but to help Salisbury move towards becoming a more dementia-friendly city.

The research, funded by the Wiltshire & Swindon Community Foundation and carried out throughout 2025, involved interviews with patients, carers, GPs, social prescribers, support group leaders and service providers.

Together, they paint a picture of a system that can work well, but not always consistently.

Movement for the Mind group. (Image: Beyond Dementia)

Chair of SaSS Anne Trevett said the findings show both cause for concern and grounds for optimism.

“It is vital that people understand you can live well with dementia,” he said.

“While we do have concerns about the provision available at both the beginning and end of the dementia journey, our research has shown that there is an enormous amount of positive work taking place across the city, often in isolation.

“SaSS is fully committed to finding ways to connect these services, strengthen communication between providers, and ensure that people living with dementia and their carers are fully aware of what support is available now and what is emerging for the future.”

Among the key findings were wide variations in diagnosis times, with some people receiving confirmation within weeks while others waited more than a year – and, in one case, more than two years.

Support after diagnosis was found to differ significantly depending on GP practice, while information about services was often described as outdated or difficult to access.

The Memory Care. (Image: Beyond Dementia)

The report also highlights pressure on voluntary and community groups, which play a crucial role in helping people live well with dementia but are often limited by funding and volunteer capacity.

SaSS is calling for clearer care pathways, better coordination between services, improved access to information and stronger links between community support and later-stage clinical care.

The charity plans to share the report with health partners, Wiltshire Council and community organisations, and to build on its findings with a Dementia Conference during Dementia Awareness Week (19–25 May).