Dementia Hero Awards Categories

There are nine different categories for the Dementia Hero Awards 2023.

Read our top tips for writing an effective Dementia Hero Awards nomination.

Page contents

1. Dementia Hero Award for Outstanding Achievement
2. Dementia Hero Award for Campaigns and Influencing
3. Dementia Hero Award for Research and Innovation
4. Dementia Hero Award for Dementia Friendly Business
5. Dementia Hero Award for Community
6. Dementia Hero Award for Media Impact (Awards for National/Regional)
7. Dementia Hero Award for Professional Excellence (Awards for Individual and Care Home/Care Organisation)
8. Dementia Hero Award for Co-Production in Local Government
9. Dementia Hero Award for Care and Compassion

1. Dementia Hero Award for Outstanding Achievement

When people affected by and living with dementia are leading efforts to change the lives of those with the condition, incredible things can happen. This special award will be open to nominations for individuals or groups that have gone above and beyond to involve people affected by dementia in their work, with incredible impact the lives of many people affected by dementia.  

Nominations should show how they have met the below criteria:

• Demonstrate the outstanding impact and positive change the nominee has had on the lives of people affected by dementia 

• Explain how the nominee went above and beyond to involve others living with and affected by dementia in their activity 

• Tell us why this individual should be the Dementia Hero for Outstanding Achievement and how they have inspired others  

(Nominated activity to have taken place since May 2021) 

2. Dementia Hero Award for Campaigns and Influencing 

To improve the lives of everyone living with dementia, we need to affect change across society in our three nations, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The most powerful advocates for change are people living with the condition or campaigners that share their stories. This award honours campaigners and advocates who use their influence to improve the lives of everyone who has a dementia diagnosis, while meaningfully involving others living with the condition every step of the way.  

Nominations should show how they have met the below criteria:

• Evidence how the nominee has campaigned and lobbied national government through Alzheimer’s Society campaigner actions, or off their own back to improve the lives of people affected by dementia, such as met with their MP, emailed their MP, spoken at an event 

• Demonstrate how the nominee has meaningfully inspired or involved others living with and affected by dementia to take action i.e. in any communications, activities, and actions, showing the importance of involving those with lived experience. 

• Show how the nominee has used their personal stories or experiences to effectively campaign and impact the lives of people affected by dementia. How have they used their lived experience to be an advocate for the greatest number of people and how have their actions directly impacted people affected by dementia? 

• Evidence how the nominee has challenged local systems and/or government to create change in their local area such as, interacting with local councils, ICS level, CCG, care homes and others 

(Nominated activity to have taken place since May 2021) 

3. Dementia Hero Award for Research and Innovation 

Research and innovation transforms the lives of everyone affected by dementia. This award recognises an individual or group of researchers or innovators who have undertaken exceptional activity that centres the experience and involvement of people with the condition. Nominations should show how they have used the personal experience of dementia to drive their understanding about the condition and can demonstrate clear impact for people affected by dementia.  

Nominations should show how they have met the below criteria:

• Outline the research or innovation activity, detailing the focus of the project and why this area of activity was chosen 

• Demonstrate the significance and impact of the research or innovation activity on the lives and experiences of people affected by dementia  

• Evidence how the research or innovation project meaningfully involved, or engaged with people affected by dementia  

(Nominated activity to have taken place since May 2021) 

4. Dementia Hero Award for Dementia Friendly Business 

Nearly 1.6 million people will be living with dementia in 2040, so it’s vital that companies consider their needs in product and service design. This category recognises organisations that have gone over and above to involve people living with dementia and those effected by the condition, whether they are customer or employees, to make their business more dementia friendly. 

As well as helping customers, we particularly want to encourage nominations from organisations that are supporting employees with a dementia diagnosis to stay at work for longer, if they wish. 

Category split by large organisation (over 1,000 staff) and small/medium organisation. 

Nominations should show how they have met the below criteria:

• Demonstrate how the organisation successfully rolled out dementia friendly initiatives or activities, both for their customers, but also for staff affected by the condition 

• Evidence how the organisation has involved, listened to, took into consideration, and planned projects and processes around the views and needs of people affected by dementia 

• Detail and evidence the positive impact on people affected by dementia of these initiatives or activities. Where possible use qualitative or/and quantitative data to evidence this

(Nominated activity to have taken place since May 2021) 

5. Dementia Hero Award for Community 

In communities across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland there are individuals, organisations or groups of volunteers who come together with people affected by dementia to make their communities a better place.  

This award recognises those projects, activities or groups led by people with lived experience to improve the experiences of people affected by dementia in their community, including dementia friendly community groups, activity groups or local dementia charities and others.  

Nominations must show how they have met the below criteria:

• Demonstrate how the nominee successfully rolled out local community initiatives, projects, or activities, improving the lives of people affected by dementia  

• Evidence how they have involved, listened to, took into consideration, and planned projects and activities around the views and needs of people affected by dementia, in a meaningful way

• Detail and evidence the positive impact on people affected by dementia of these initiatives or activities. Tell us how the work has improved the lives of people affected by dementia in their community 

(Nominated activity to have taken place since May 2021) 

6. Dementia Hero Award for Media Impact (Awards for National/Regional)

When journalists and broadcasters come together with people living with dementia to share the experiences of what it’s like to live with the condition, can be really powerful. This award category recognises journalists, broadcasters and people living with dementia has made a genuine impact, through the media, by sharing the experiences of people affected by dementia and highlighting the issues that really matter to people affected by dementia, raising awareness, challenging stigma or pushing for change. 

Nominations must show how they have met the below criteria:

• Demonstrate how the nominee has told the story of the people living with dementia in a sensitive, authentic and responsible way 

• Demonstrate awareness and sensitivity when filming, recording or interviewing people living with dementia, in line with the Alzheimer’s Society Media guidelines  

• Include well-researched evidence and accurate content, which is genuine and considerate in portraying the lives of people affected by and living with dementia 

• Show how they have proactively involved people affected by dementia in the creation of content, considering how the individual/s wish to be presented, to tell compelling stories about what it’s like to live with the condition 

• Highlight issues which really matter to people with dementia in a compelling way that has real impact to raise awareness, push for change or help change the conversation about dementia 

(Nominated activity to have taken place since May 2021) 

7. Dementia Hero Award for Professional Excellence (Awards for Individual and Care Home/Care Organisation)

Evidence shows that supporting people to be actively involved in their own care, treatment and support can improve outcomes and their experience. This award is to recognise the work of an individual healthcare professional, organisation, or groups of professionals, who have provided personalised care to support people living with dementia. 

Nominations should demonstrate how the care has been personalised through meaningful involvement with the person with dementia or their family/support network. This award is open to professionals in residential care, home care and health care settings. 

Nominations should show how they have met the below criteria:

• Evidence how the individual, team or organisation have met the needs of people affected by dementia by delivering high quality person-centred care that considers the person’s needs, views, and desires 

• Detail of how the individual, team or organisation has meaningfully involved the person with dementia, or their family and support network 

• Detail and evidence of the positive impact on people affected by dementia of the personalised care provided

(Nominated activity to have taken place since May 2021) 

8. Dementia Hero Award for Co-Production in Local Government 

This category celebrates individuals and teams working within local government are who prioritising the needs of people affected by dementia through meaningful co-production. In particular, nominations should demonstrate how the individual or team has consistently involved people affected by dementia in planning, development, and evaluation to improve the outcome of a project or service. 

Nominations must show how they have met the below criteria:

• Evidence how services, systems and initiatives are being improved to better support people affected by dementia in the local area 

• Provide evidence and insight on the impact that these new initiatives, or changes to existing support, have had a positive impact on the lives of people affected by dementia 

• Tell us how the nominee sought to find out how they could improve dementia services locally 

• Demonstrate how the nominee has meaningfully involved people affected by dementia in developing and implementing strategies and pathway changes, putting people affected by the condition at the heart  

(Nominated activity to have taken place since May 2021) 

9. Dementia Hero Award for Care and Compassion

Supporting a person with dementia can be positive and rewarding, but it can also be very challenging. This award recognises carers whose dedication to changing the lives of people affected by dementia and perseverance, would otherwise go unnoticed.  

With this award, we will honour a carer, or group of carers, who beyond their individual caring responsibilities, go even further to change the lives of people affected by dementia by using their own experience and involving others in their activity.  

Nominations should show how they have met the below criteria:

• Explain how the nominee has demonstrated the best of what caring can be, how they have gone above and beyond for a person with dementia and the impact they have

• Detail the activity beyond their caring responsibilities, that improve the lives of people living with and affected by dementia. This could include but isn’t limited to; involvement in local groups, supporting other carers, or influencing others to understand the needs of people affected by dementia 

• Demonstrate how the nominee has learned from the experiences of others living with and affected by dementia, and how they have meaningfully involved others affected by the condition in their activity. 

(Nominated activity to have taken place since May 2021)