Dementia Friendly East Lothian(and beyond) brings together people living with dementia
Curious, Connected, and Rooted in Community
We are an open, county-wide network connecting people, places, and ideas for healthy, happy brains and bodies across every age and stage of life.
We believe the deepest insight comes from the lived experience of our daily lives and how we adjust to the changes, opportunities and challenges it brings. From out work with people living with dementia, care-partners and meeting centres, we’ve seen the importance of people and places who are welcoming and inclusive. Developments in research and science we have broadened our focus to look at preventing and managing the risks of people living with dementia, carers, and diverse minds young and old. Listening to and respecting lived experience sits at the very heart of everything we do.
How We Work Together:
Focusing on what’s strong, not what’s wrong: Nurturing the skills, creativity, and natural assets already alive in our people and neighbourhoods.
True co-production: Working alongside each other as equal partners, because we go much further when we design and create together.
Building community wealth: Strengthening personal, social, and local spaces where everyone has a role and a sense of belonging.
People & Places
Celebrating how local communities change lives and proving why place matters. Stories from inspiring people and communities showing what’s possible when we come together to make change happen.
Ideas & Insights: Connecting Lived Experience & Research
Harvesting the benefits of a growing body of evidence about what how our brains work, living with dementia and cognitive impairment and the power of community. Bringing together evidence from lived experience, academic research and service delivery helps create workable solutions, reduce waste, and improve lives.
Changing the World: Sharing, Learning & Creating Together
Collective voice, co-production, Gatherings, and driving systemic change across policy, service delivery, and community life.
Help Us Name Our Next Chapter
As we grow into a lifespan brain-health network for all ages, we want this space to reflect all of us. What should we call our community network? Share your ideas.
Dementia Friendly Haddington: A Potted History
For many years, the Haddington and Lammermuir community has been actively engaged in exploring what it means to support people affected by dementia s a community.
DFEL Gathering 2024: Nourishing our neurones
Our Gathering in 2024, "nourishing our neurones," brought together people off all ages from across the community and organisation to learn more about what Brain Health us and…
Musselburgh Library Garden
The Musselburgh Library Garden is a community garden, a place for plants and people to thrive, a place for connection, joy, and confidence. The Library Garden was created by…