The Alzheimer's Society GRACE programme: Better dementia care for everyone

Avoidable inequalities in healthcare

A report commissioned by Alzheimer’s Society from the Office of Health Economics (OHE) highlighted a staggering 110 healthcare inequalities faced by people living with dementia, and 28 that specifically affect carers. This ranged from the ability to get a timely diagnosis to the effects of social care funding cuts, and also included gender, health, and wellbeing.

This imbalance is completely avoidable. We can do something to remove this unfairness, and we will.

The GRACE programme 

In 2024, we called on research teams to come forward with big, bold ideas to ensure a fairer deal for people living with dementia. We have awarded £2 million in funding to the GRACE Programme: Better Dementia Care for Everyone.

The GRACE programme aims to ensure that everyone – no matter who they are or where they live – can access excellent dementia care in the community and in care homes.

Professor Claudia Cooper and Jessica Budgett at Queen Mary University London want to see quality, evidence-based care made available across the UK, starting in areas with the highest needs.

How the programme will develop

A world leading group of researchers will test a package of resources, known as GRACE, with people with dementia and their family carers to help them achieve their own care goals such as sleeping better, doing more activities, improving the mood of carers among others. 

We know that no two people with dementia face the same circumstances and challenges so the GRACE programme will develop personalised resources to support families and meet their unique needs. 

GRACE will adapt resources for under-served groups to ensure that they are accessible to as many people as possible. For example, by considering language barriers or culturally appropriate care. 

Dementia hits hardest where health inequalities run deepest. Early and accurate diagnoses, access to specialist personalised dementia care and dedicated support for carers must be a priority - so that everyone receives the help they deserve.

– Professor Fiona Carragher,  Alzheimer’s Society Chief Policy and Research Officer

Our researchers will explore how the GRACE care programme can support people living in areas which have a high level f healthcare inequalities, working initially in Belfast, Humber and North Yorkshire, North East London, and Kent and Medway. 

If these resources are shown to be effective in supporting people with dementia and carers in these areas of high healthcare inequalities, we hope that they will be rolled out further in the UK.

GRACE will change the lives of people with dementia

We know that in the UK there is a postcode lottery when it comes to dementia care. Through the GRACE programme, we can develop and deliver consistent and accessible support for people with dementia across the UK, so that no one is left behind.

Professor Claudia Cooper, GRACE programme lead, said: 

“This opportunity to roll out our suite of psychological support programmes to people with dementia and their families living in some of the most deprived areas, where health inequalities are highest, across the UK is so important.” 

It is a huge challenge, but working alongside Alzheimer's Society, people affected by dementia and the NHS, we can transform how family carers and people with dementia receive support after a diagnosis. My grandmother died with dementia - we were very close and caring for her has been an experience I have drawn on in this work.

Programme updates

Alzheimer’s Society are proud that the GRACE programme is the next stage in the evolution of the resources originally developed through the ‘NIDUS’ programme, which was also funded by us. This research successfully showed that not only do these resources support people with dementia and their carers to achieve their own personal care goals, but they are also cost effective, reducing emergency and social care costs.

At Alzheimer’s Society we understand that we must do better – everyone deserves easy access to high-quality dementia care. It will take a society to beat dementia, and our vision is to make the UK the best place in the world for dementia care and support.