What Next After Shock Dementia Concern Closure?

Departure of one of Ealing's oldest charities leaves big gap in services

Dementia Concern operated from Windmill Road

May 28, 2026

Questions are being asked as to the appropriate response to the shock announcement of one of Ealing’s longest-standing charities

Dementia Concern stopped operating this week after more than forty years of supporting people living with dementia, along with their families and carers. The organisation said it recognised that the news would be upsetting for many and that its priority during the transition was to ensure that staff, service users and families were treated with dignity, clarity and compassion. Discussions are taking place with local stakeholders to explore whether any part of the charity’s work could continue under alternative providers, but the organisation has formally ceased operations.

For over four decades, Dementia Concern played a central role in dementia support across Ealing. Its Dementia Link Workers provided home visits, personalised guidance and regular six-monthly assessments to help individuals and families understand and manage changes in their condition. The charity also ran a Dementia Advice service, offering trusted information on local and national support options, and operated a network of social clubs that gave people living with dementia a safe and friendly place to meet others, share meals and take part in gentle, dementia-informed activities led by trained specialists. These services helped many residents remain in their homes for as long as possible while staying connected to appropriate health and social care support.

Peter Ryan, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said the decision to close had been extremely difficult, particularly because the charity worked with vulnerable people who relied on its services. He explained that the organisation’s financial position had become unsustainable despite efforts over recent years to stabilise it. He thanked staff, volunteers, partners and the families the charity had supported, saying that Dementia Concern was proud of the work it had carried out in the borough.

Ealing Liberal Democrats said they were saddened to learn that the charity had shut its doors, noting that letters were issued to worried users only a week before the service ended. Councillor Andrew Steed, who leads on Adults’ Services for the group, said the loss of Dementia Concern removed vital support at a time when dementia diagnoses are expected to rise. He also highlighted the impact on staff who have been made redundant, adding to unemployment locally and nationally, and warned that the closure could have knock-on effects for Ealing Community Transport, whose accessible “green buses” transported dementia club users and others with mobility needs. He pointed out that ECT had already faced financial pressure after a significant rent increase imposed by the council in 2025.

Cllr Steed linked the closure to what he described as a wider pattern of erosion in social care services across the borough, citing the closure of the Careline service in 2024 and concerns about the future of centres such as Michael Flanders and Cowgate, as well as reductions in children’s centres. He said the Liberal Democrats would continue to press for action to address unmet need in the borough and to ensure that vulnerable residents did not lose essential support.

Ealing Council was asked to respond to the councillor’s comments.

Residents seeking dementia support can contact the Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Service at Elm Lodge on 0208 483 2647 or Sycamore Lodge on 0208 483 1662.