Holistic support services needed for dementia patients

A report by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics has concluded that dementia sufferers and their carers could benefit enormously from a greater level of holistic support, provided at an earlier stage in the disease’s progression. At the present time, support often cannot be accessed until the patient’s condition is quite advanced or a ‘crisis point’ has been reached. The report states that patients’ emotional and spiritual needs should be considered as well as their physical wellbeing, and that they should be involved in decisions wherever possible instead of being ‘written-off’. The recommendations are similar to those made for cancer care 20 years ago, when it was recognised that supporting cancer patients is not just a case of treating the disease itself. Dr Rhona Knight, a co-author of the report, comments: ‘People with dementia are often capable of doing much more than we think, and even if they can't make big decisions, they may be able to make smaller ones, such as what to wear or eat...People with dementia also need more respect.’ The Nuffield report praises schemes such as the establishment of Alzheimer Cafes where patients, their carers and health professionals can meet to discuss problems, as these are helping both to reduce the social stigma attached to the disease and allowing patients and carers easier access to expert information and support. You can read the report, its findings and recommendations in full at the Nuffield Council on Bioethics website.