New dementia safety scheme launched across Mid & East Antrim to help vulnerable residents get home safely
- Love Ballymena
- 4 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, and Mayoress Allison Minford, pictured with Karen Bruce from Council’s Community Health and Wellbeing Team and DEA Manager, Janet Shearer, to launch the Dementia Safeguarding Scheme for Mid and East Antrim.
Families caring for loved ones with dementia across Mid and East Antrim are being offered new peace of mind through a safeguarding scheme designed to help vulnerable residents return home safely if they become lost or disoriented.
Mid & East Antrim Borough Council has launched a Dementia Friendly Safeguarding Scheme which provides free specially designed wristbands and hang tags for people living with dementia across the borough.
The initiative uses Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to securely store emergency contact details for next of kin, allowing members of the public to quickly contact family or carers using a smartphone if someone appears confused, distressed, or unable to find their way home.
The scheme comes as thousands of people across Northern Ireland continue to live with dementia, with families often facing the constant worry that a loved one could become lost while out in the community.
Designed to support independence and safety
Council officials say the devices are intended to support people living with dementia to remain independent while also improving their safety in public spaces.
If a person wearing one of the wristbands or hang tags becomes confused or distressed, a member of the public can tap the device with a smartphone to access emergency contact information and alert their next of kin.
The technology allows vulnerable residents to be reunited more quickly with their families or carers without the need for complex apps or specialist equipment.
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, said the scheme could make a meaningful difference for local families living with the daily challenges of dementia.
He said:
“Thanks to the pioneering approach of Avon and Somerset Police, we can give peace of mind to families and carers of those living with dementia. These simple, effective tools empower our communities to become more dementia friendly and help people living with dementia remain safe and supported within their local area.
“Dementia can affect people aged 30 to 65 and currently in Northern Ireland around 25,000 people are living with the condition. It is easy for a loved one to become disoriented or lost, and when wearing one of these wristbands or hang tags, a friendly neighbour can help get them home safely.”
Growing focus on dementia-friendly communities
The safeguarding scheme forms part of wider efforts to strengthen dementia-friendly support networks across Mid and East Antrim.
Council leaders say the programme is designed not only to protect vulnerable residents, but also to encourage greater public awareness and community involvement when someone living with dementia may need help.
The initiative is being delivered jointly by Mid & East Antrim Borough Council and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
With dementia rates continuing to rise across the UK, safeguarding schemes like this are increasingly being used to reduce risks for vulnerable people while easing pressure and anxiety for carers and families.
How residents can register
Residents interested in registering for a wristband or hang tag, or who want more information about the Dementia Safeguarding Scheme and NFC technology, can visit:
The council says the devices are available free of charge to residents living with dementia in Mid and East Antrim.
For many local families, the scheme may offer something difficult to measure but deeply important — reassurance that if a loved one becomes lost or confused, help could arrive far more quickly from the community around them.