The Alzheimer’s Society’s scheme, entitled ‘This is me’ was developed to improve standards of dementia care in hospitals.  Patients or carers fill in a leaflet describing themselves and their individual needs, which is then passed to healthcare staff.  As well as promoting person-centred care, the initiative also aims to help care workers to cope better with challenging behaviour from patients.  It is hoped that ‘This is me’  will lead to a more consistent quality of dementia care, and help reverse a current trend of patients leaving hospital in a poorer condition than when they were admitted – both findings from recent Alzheimer’s Society reports.

Anyone who feels that they or a relative should receive NHS continuing care funding – now or in the past – due to an overriding health need should contact Cheselden immediately so that we can review your case.

• Local leadership on dementia issues has not been put in place in many areas
• Dementia has not been made a priority in the NHS Operating Framework, which establishes the core areas that the NHS will focus on in the next five years
• Future costs and budgets are not yet clear, but it is probable that the estimated 10 year cost of £1.9 billion is not enough as proposed efficiency savings may not be feasible
• Basic training on dementia matters for healthcare staff is still not available
• The NHS and local authorities are not yet working together to provide and improve dementia services.

Despite these disappointing findings, the report does highlight several cases where local areas are improving access to higher quality dementia services and, if implemented nationwide, these new practices would make a big difference.  Commenting on the report, the NAO says that the Government’s ‘action…has not so far matched the rhetoric’, and adds: ‘At the moment this strategy lacks the mechanisms needed to bring about large scale improvements.’  Health minister Phil Hope defended the progress made in dementia services but concedes that ‘There is still much more to be done.’

The charity Alzheimer’s Society is demanding that all political parties need to make dementia care a priority when preparing their manifestos for the forthcoming election. It has published damning figures from new research, which show that less than a quarter of dementia sufferers feel that their needs are being adequately met, whilst even fewer consider that staff providing care have received enough training. Access to respite breaks for was also found to be lacking, with just 12% of carers able to take regular breaks. In other research, the Society has found that MPs are keen to improve the situation, with 81% of politicians surveyed saying that a long-term solution to social care funding needs to be higher up the political agenda. Another 67% believe that the current system of charging for personal care – which is free in Scotland – is unfair on people that suffer from dementia. The charity’s chief executive Neil Hunt comments: ‘It is unacceptable for a care service to be failing such a vulnerable group to such a staggering degree…It has been reassuring to hear the political parties talking about adult social care this year but now with an election imminent we need more detail…We now need to hear guarantees on how each of the parties would provide a fair, transparent and high quality social care system.’ The Society is making three key demands to MPs in the run-up to the election, on behalf of the UK’s 700,000 dementia sufferers:

• Details of how they will provide a high quality social care service, and how this will meet the needs of people with dementia and their carers.

Confirmation that the non means-tested benefit Attendance Allowance, which provides vital extra income for thousands of people, will not be abolished.
Prioritisation and funding of dementia research, which is currently grossly underfunded compared to research into other conditions.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
23:30

The Daily Mail reports that a Wiltshire woman suffering from severe dementia has been denied continuing care funding as her PCT does not consider she has an overriding health need. The decision is being challenged by Phyllis Knight’s daughter, Angela Howard. Mrs Knight has been living in a care home since her husband, who cared for her, died three years ago. Even then, her dementia was so advanced that she remained in her home with her husband’s body for four days, unaware of the situation, until he was discovered. Mrs Knight now receives 24 hour care, at a cost of £825 per week, as she is unable to dress or feed herself. Her daughter comments on her attempts to overturn the PCT’s funding decision: ‘There are so many people having to fight these paper battles with bureaucracy at a time when they have got all these stresses going on in their lives. The authorities hope that people like me will give up, but I will not give up this fight for my mother.’ She has already lost an appeal hearing which took place in September 2009, and Mrs Knight’s case will now be heard by an independent review panel. Wiltshire PCT maintains that it followed national guidance when assessing Mrs Knight’s case, but a spokesperson for the Alzheimer’s Society commented that: ‘We are aware of thousands of families struggling to obtain free continuing care. The eligibility criteria need to be clearer.’

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
23:13

Care provider Pendine Park has announced that it hopes to create a world-leading dementia care centre on the site of a former hospital in Gwynedd, Wales. The company is about to submit a planning permission application for the £4 million project, which would provide a mixture of home and community-based services for dementia patients and their families. Pendine Park is a leading player in the independent dementia care market in Wales and already employs 500 staff. Company owner Mario Kreft comments on the new project: ‘Our vision is to provide a world class community based resource for older people with a range of needs…There will also be specialised “extra care” accommodation that provides independence and choice to those with varying care needs and enables them to remain in their own home, enabling the spouse or partner to remain as the main carer.’

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
23:08

The Guardian has published an article warning of the problems that the UK faces due to its ageing population. Following on from their recent London conference on older people and ageing Britain, the article describes a raft of potential issues, including:

• By 2030 there will be over 2.9 million over-85s in Britain and by 2055 there will be only two working people per retired person, which is economically unsustainable.
• Over 1 million people will suffer from dementia by 2030 and it is unsure whether the Government’s white paper on social care, due for release in early 2010, will contain measures that are far-reaching enough to cope with the financial and caring burdens.
• A shortage both of housing that is suitable for the elderly and that is needed by younger families, because older people tend to remain in large family homes instead of downsizing.
• 7 million people feel that they lack social support in the UK, many of whom are lonely elderly people.

The Guardian calls on the Government to recognise the looming crisis of our ageing population and take immediate measures to tackle the forthcoming risks and problems.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
08:13

Businessman and former chief executive of Granada TV Gerry Robinson has made a two-part BBC documentary entitled ‘Can Gerry Robinson fix dementia care homes?’ Further to his own experiences with his father, who died of dementia, Mr Robinson decided to investigate the standards of dementia care that are available in England’s care homes and expose the problems that the care industry is facing. These quickly became apparent in part 1, aired on 8 December. During a visit to Woodland House in Torquay, staff explained how they receive little or no training in dealing with dementia patients and felt undervalued by their employers. Other problems are caused by the lack of activities for residents and staff being too busy to attend to their needs promptly. Mr Robinson then visited another home, Merevale, where high staff to patient ratios and a broad programme of activities for residents result in a completely different atmosphere, where residents get involved and help to run the home. As well as keeping the residents happy, providing this kind of care also makes good business sense as Merevale is rated ‘Excellent’ and is always full. In Part 2, Mr Robinson will implement the Merevale approach at another care home, Summervale, in a bid to both improve the quality of life for residents and to turn the home into a viable business.

You can watch part 1 of ‘Can Gerry Robinson fix dementia care homes?’ on BBC iPlayer. Part 2 will be broadcast on Tuesday 15 December on BBC2 at 9pm and will be available on iPlayer after that date. More information on the programme is available at the BBC’s Headroom website, where you can also download a free factsheet about dementia care.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
01:15

The Times has revealed that Gordon Brown’s recent pledge to provide free social care to England’s 400,000 neediest people will come at the expense of vital funding into diseases such as dementia. Questions were raised over how the Government will pay the £670 million bill for providing the free care as soon as the Prime Minister made his announcement. And now the Times has discovered that £60 million of NHS money, earmarked for research and development, will now be diverted into the social care funding pot. The former health minister Lord Warner has called for more information to be made available on exactly which research budgets will be diverted from the NHS into social care. However, research funding for conditions such as Alzheimer’s has already fallen by 7% in 2009 – despite repeated appeals from experts and charities that a huge increase in funding is needed if the UK is to cope with the rising number of dementia patients. At present, there are around 700,000 people with dementia in the UK and this figure is expected to double by 2025, with an estimated cost to the NHS of £1.7 billion per year. Current health minister Phil Hope has denied that the reduced investment in dementia funding represents a cut down on dementia research, arguing that many proposals for funding in 2009 have been turned down as they were not up to the required standard. But the Alzheimer’s Research Trust responded angrily to these claims, stating that: ‘The Department of Health claimed it will find £60 million for care from its research budget and in the same week said its dementia research spending has fallen. This smacks of the sort of short-termism that is causing us to sleepwalk into a dementia crisis. The Government needs to significantly increase its funding for research and it must do it now.’

The Government has also been roundly criticised by opposing parties for making false promises about social care and dementia funding in an attempt to win over voters in next year’s general election.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
01:01

An Alzheimer’s Society survey of 1,300 carers and 1,00 nurses has found that more than 50% of dementia patients that are admitted to hospital suffering from complaints such as chest infections and broken hips are staying there much longer than other patients. The prolonged hospital stays combined with varying standards of care are resulting in many dementia patients ending up in a worse state of health on discharge than when they were admitted. The Society is calling for clinical leadership, nurse training and community support services to be improved so that these patients can be discharged a week earlier – a move that it says will save the NHS millions of pounds. Chief executive Neil Hunt comments: ‘It is shocking that people with dementia are occupying up to a quarter of hospital beds yet there are scandalous variations in the quality of dementia care in hospitals.’ Care minister Phil Hope responded by stating that the recently-launched national dementia strategy will work to improve the situation, with extra training and resources becoming available for both carers and nursing staff. He added that a national clinical director for dementia will shortly be appointed to lead the strategy and its implementation.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
09:54

The Government’s long-awaited review on the effect the widespread prescription of anti-psychotic drugs to dementia patients has now been published. The report echoes the conclusions already reached by dementia experts – the drugs are not only needlessly prescribed in most cases, but are frequently responsible for premature death. Of the 180,000 patients that are given the drugs every year in hospitals, care homes and in their own homes, 150,000 do not need them and their use has been linked to around 1,800 deaths. The Government now plans to crack down on the drugs’ prescription through a series of measures including the promotion of alternative forms of behaviour management, providing specialist training to staff and appointing a new national director for dementia to monitor and control the prescription of the drugs. Professor Sube Bannerjee of Kings College, London, who led the Government review, believes that by implementing these measures, anti-psychotic drug use will fall by two thirds within three years. Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, welcomed the official recognition of the problems caused by the drugs, adding: ’This goes beyond quality of care. This is a fundamental rights issue.’

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
09:58

A number of American doctors have reclassified dementia as a terminal illness in an attempt to ensure a better standard of palliative care for patients that are in the final stages of the disease. In an interview with Time magazine, Dr Greg Sachs of the Indiana Center for Ageing Research explained that he has chosen to redefine the disease as terminal to combat the widespread assumption that people do not die from dementia. Rather than viewing dementia as a mental health condition that often accompanies the ageing process, Dr Sachs urges medical professionals to treat it as a terminal illness that will eventually kill the patient. He hopes that by understanding the disease properly, healthcare staff and carers will offer more appropriate end of life care and support to the patient and their relatives. Read the article in full at the Time magazine website.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
13:57

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.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
14:57

The Vale of Glamorgan in Wales has welcomed the introduction of a national action plan to help the country cope with an anticipated rise in the number of dementia sufferers. The Welsh Assembly Government’s National Dementia Action Plan for Wales has now been put out for public consultation. It aims to provide support to individuals to enable them to remain independent, support communities to help their own residents with dementia and to improve access to services for everyone. Overall in Wales, there will an estimated 31% increase in the number of dementia sufferers by 2021 and the Vale of Glamorgan will be particularly affected because it has a large proportion of elderly people. Vale social services have welcomed the Action Plan as it will help them to cope with the increasing strain on their budget and services. However, they have commented that some areas of the Plan need further work, such as projects to enable more people to receive care in the community rather than in residential homes.

In other Welsh dementia news, scientists at Cardiff University have made a major breakthrough in the study of genes in Alzheimer’s disease. The University team have identified certain genes that are linked to the development of the disease and are now hoping to secure £5 million of funding that will enable them to carry out a study of 60,000 people to look for other genes linked to dementia. More details of the findings and proposed research can be found at the Wales Online website.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
16:27

Welsh Assembly Member Lesley Griffiths is urging the public to get involved in the consultation process for the National Dementia Action Plan for Wales before the deadline of 11 September 2009. The Action Plan was announced in June and introduces new measures to meet the needs of dementia sufferers and their carers as well as raising awareness of dementia and reducing the stigma that surrounds the illness. Other areas covered include end of life care, housing issues and how patients can be cared for more effectively in their own homes, for example, by using new technologies such as telecare. The implementation of the Action Plan is a priority for the Welsh Assembly Government, which recognises that it must be suitably equipped to deal with an estimated 35% rise in dementia sufferers over the next 20 years. Ms Griffiths comments: ‘There will be a rapidly growing need for dementia care right across Wales in future years. In Wrexham, for example, it is anticipated that the number of sufferers aged over 75 years old, will increase by a staggering 60% by the year 2021. This tells us why we need this Plan in place now.’ To find out more about the National Dementia Action Plan for Wales and how you can get involved in the consultation process, visit the Welsh Assembly Government website.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
16:02

Northamptonshire County Council has agreed to provide £1.3 million of funding to help improve the county’s adult social care services. The money will be spent on eight new projects that aim to prevent problems or intervene at an early stage. Five more projects will be funded by the Northamptonshire Invest to Save programme which was awarded by the Government two years ago. These will cover wide-ranging social care issues such as dementia, mental health and visual impairment. It is hoped that all the projects will contribute to the council’s long-term aims of saving money and improving the quality of life for service users through earlier prevention and tackling of social care issues. Councillor Robin Brown comments: ‘By focusing on prevention and early intervention, we will be able to rely far less on admitting people to residential or nursing care but promote the independence, health and well-being of adults with social care needs living in Northamptonshire.’

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
13:11

The healthcare company PSP Care Centre has set up a £1 million fund to help pay for care for dementia sufferers in Devon. The company runs Angela Court care home in Tipton St Johns, Devon, which provides specialist nursing care for 37 residents with dementia. The new fund aims to help bridge the gap between the amount Devon County Council will pay towards care – currently up to £533 per week – and the actual amount of care which is around £700 per week. PSP spokesman Wayne Shermon commented: ‘We recognise that the costs of nursing care can be very high and often cause additional stress for families and supporters. We have therefore set up a special fund which can be used to subsidise the cost of providing nursing care.’ Around 700,000 people in the UK currently suffer from dementia with this number expected to double by 2025. It costs around £1.7 billion per year to treat and care for dementia patients.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
14:06

Special stands for ‘Specialised early care for Alzheimer’s’ and is a new method of caring for people with dementia. It was developed by Penny Wark in the mid 1980s when her mother began to show signs of dementia and Penny closely observed her actions and behaviours. Special involves relating to dementia sufferers through their feelings and long-term memory and by trying to keep them feeling contented rather than presenting them with new facts which they cannot store and will not remember. Central to the approach is not asking questions or contradicting the patient and learning to cope with their repetitiveness. Doing this helps the patient to feel more normal, and therefore content, whilst doing the opposite tends to trigger anxiety, frustration and confusion. In a Times Online article Penny explains: ‘They (dementia patients) haven’t lost their ability to reason, they’ve lost the information that other people around them are using to reason with. But they do have some substitute stuff in their memory. My mother could recall stacks of stuff and when she did that she was confident. She would make an intelligent match between what she saw and old facts. Sitting in the doctor’s waiting room, she would think she was at an airport and ask if our flight had been called. If I said, “Not yet”, she was happy. But by challenging her, my father could reduce her very easily to a dithering wreck.’ Special concentrates on relating the patient’s long-term stored information, which makes them feel comfortable and in control, to what is happening now, even if the actual situation isn’t what is happening – as in the airport / doctor’s waiting room scenario that Penny describes. Although some people consider that encouraging sufferers to live in a ‘fantasy world’ is not ethical, Penny argues that it is also unethical to brutally present them with facts they cannot understand and which will cause distress. Special has been endorsed by the Royal College of Nursing and the Alzheimer’s Society and carers using the method have reported good results for the patient and reduced need for antipsychotic drugs. There is also less stress for the carers themselves. To read more, visit the Times website.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
14:01

The Yorkshire Post reports on a dispute that has broken out between Leeds PCT and the family of a woman suffering from advanced dementia. 83 year old Sheila Fox cannot communicate, move or eat without assistance and is doubly incontinent. Despite the severity of her condition, Mrs Fox has been denied NHS-funded continuing care because she shows no signs of distress. However, her assessors have admitted that they are unable to evaluate her mental condition and therefore have no way of knowing whether or not she is distressed. Her son Adrian has pointed out that patients with similar health needs are receiving funding in other areas of the country and accuses Leeds NHS of withholding funding because they know his mother can afford to pay for her care by selling her property. Mrs Fox’s MP Fabian Hamilton is backing her son’s campaign to obtain full NHS funding and has asked Leeds PCT to review her case. In a letter to the PCT, he describes the denial of funding as a ‘…cynical betrayal of due concern for Mrs Fox who could well still have some comprehension but is now trapped by the failure of her mental capacity and cannot communicate in any way.’ NHS Leeds responded by saying that her case has now been reviewed four times and that Mrs Fox does not qualify for continuing care funding because her health needs do not meet the criteria set out in the National Framework of being ‘unpredictable, intense or very complex’. To read the article in full, visit the Yorkshire Post’s website.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
14:00

The Government has finally bowed to the long-term pressure applied by charities, scientists and the media to increase its budget for funding research into the causes and treatment of dementia. The news was announced by care minister Phil Hope at a ministerial summit on dementia that was held on 20 July. In an open letter sent to ministers and newspapers, more than 30 experts had urged the Government to triple funding to £96 million, pointing out that dementia research funding lags far behind equivalent spending on heart disease and cancer. The letter stated: ‘..for every pound spent on dementia care, a fraction of a penny is spent on research into defeating the condition. Our key weakness is lack of funding, not lack of talent. If the government squanders this opportunity, we will all pay the price.’ Responding to the letter, Phil Hope told the conference: ‘Research is the key to developing new treatments, transforming care and finding a cure for this devastating condition. Today is a vital step towards a more coordinated approach to research. By 2011, the total National Institute for Health Research budget for all health science will be nearly £1billion. We now need to increase successful dementia research proposals to access this.’ Dementia currently affects around 700,000 people in the UK. It is estimated that this figure will double within the next 20 years, with a resulting cost to the NHS of over £50 billion unless a successful treatment can be found.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
13:43

In response to the recent Green Paper, the University of Leeds and the Bow Group have published new research which demonstrates the benefits of introducing telecare to the social care system. Telecare involves remotely monitoring an individual’s condition so that changes are picked up and treatment administered at the earliest possible stage. It has been proven to help prevent unnecessary hospital admissions, enable earlier discharge and significantly save on care resources and costs. Patients also benefit by being able to stay in their own homes for longer, rather than having to move into residential care, as they have the reassurance of being constantly monitored. The Telecare system consists of wireless sensors which communicate with a base unit that is linked to a 24 hour monitoring and response centre. As well as changes in health conditions, the sensors can also pick up on risks such as falls, fire, gas leaks and security – helping to prevent accident or injury. The behaviour and movements of dementia patients can be monitored to ensure that they do not do anything or go anywhere that might endanger them or others. Telecare fits in with the Government’s commitment to providing more people with care in their own homes, greater independence and dignity, and increased choice over how their care is delivered. Unpaid carers, usually family members, will benefit greatly from the increased support that can be provided as well as the lower costs involved. Professor Sue Yeandle of the University of Leeds urged that the Government acts on its research and makes funding available for the widespread implementation of telecare. She comments: ‘This research evidence clearly demonstrates that telecare is already making an impressive impact in helping sick, disabled and older people remain at home for longer, supporting unpaid carers and saving money in the health and social care system. Progress is being held back because of a lack of investment, low awareness among health and social care staff and access which is limited by eligibility criteria.’ You download Professor Yeandle’s research report by clicking here.

In related news, the technology trade association Intellect has launched a project called ‘Fitting IT all together’ which sets out the technology industry’s view on health and social care, and which calls for more openness and transparency, a roadmap to support joined-up working, and earlier engagement with industry. You can read or download the ‘Fitting IT all together’ paper at Intellect’s website.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
13:39

An article in Wales Online [link to http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health-news/2009/07/10/trapped-by-caring-for-a-relative-with-dementia-91466-24117584/] has highlighted the lack of support that is available for people in Wales that care for a relative suffering from dementia. Through the example of Keith Dewhurst who cares for his mother Odette, the article describes the problems faced by family members whose lives are completely changed when they become carers. As well as providing 24 hour care for his mother and rarely being able to leave his home, Keith has also had to give up his job and all his hobbies to look after Odette. On top of providing care himself, Keith pays £300 per week to a domiciliary care company to provide vital help such as getting Odette in and out of bed. He feels isolated and unsupported by social services, blaming politicians for their attitude of praising unpaid carers for their work whilst doing little to ease their burden. He comments: ‘Until dementia…is seen in the same light as a serious illness then carers will have to cope, often by themselves, with little or no help on the ground…It’s difficult to say how much longer I can care for her at home, but at the moment I feel trapped.’ Keith also draws attention to the ‘postcode lottery’ of care costs in Wales, with care home fees starting from around £350 in some areas and going up to £1,500 per week in other regions.

It is hoped that the support system for unpaid carers in Wales will improve when measures from the forthcoming Welsh Green Paper on social care (which will be based largely on the English Green Paper published on 14 July 2009) are introduced.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
12:38

A device that helps care home residents with dementia to keep track of their own clothing has won an award at the Health and Social Care Awards held on 8 July. Designed for and used by Nottingham City Council, the ‘Stay Put’ radio frequency identification button attaches discreetly to a person’s clothes and enables them to identify their own garments so that they do not mistakenly take another resident’s clothes. The Stay Put device won the Innovation in Technology award for helping dementia sufferers maintain their independence and dignity. It is used in all five specialist dementia care units in Nottingham after being introduced in October 2008. It is available to people visiting the units for short term or respite care as well to long-stay residents. As well as helping to keep residents’ clothing separate, Stay Put also records details of an individual’s skin-related issues and allergies which staff need to be aware of when laundering clothes. Nottingham city councillor Eugene Campbell commented on the device’s success: ‘I’m thrilled Nottingham City Council has won this prestigious award for what is a simple idea that new technology allows us to put in place. It can save problems and upset and give our care staff more time to spend caring for residents…The buttons store specific requirements, ensuring individual needs are met discreetly and efficiently.’

In related news, Sir Michael Parkinson has spoken on GMTV about the People’s Award for Dignity in Care that he presented at the Health and Social Care Awards on 8 July. Sir Michael, who has been NHS Dignity Ambassador since May 2008, works to promote the rights of older people to be treated in the same way as younger generations. He supports the Dignity in Care campaign which has appointed 7,000 Dignity Champions across the health and social care sectors, all of whom are committed to improve the way in which older people are treated in hospitals, care homes and in their own homes.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
16:32

Charities the Alzheimer’s Society and the Alzheimer’s Research Trust have asked the Government to triple the amount it is spending on research into dementia. They pointed out that the 2007-08 spending level of £32.4m was eight times less than the amount spent on research into cancer – and much less than the amount per head spent on dementia research in the USA. The charities say that the increased funds will help the UK ‘lead the world in the race for a cure’ and will help prevent the cost of caring for dementia patients becoming unaffordable as the number of cases rises sharply over the next 15 years. Leading UK scientists have lent their support to the charities’ campaign, which it is hoped will influence the Government’s dementia research summit, to be held on 21 July. Neil Hunt of the Alzheimer’s Society comments: ’The dementia research summit must be more than just a talking shop. It is a crucial opportunity for the government, charities and stakeholders to commit to a shared vision for dementia research. We need an ambitious plan that drives changes and defeats this devastating condition.’

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
15:59

Bristol councils, PCTs, the South West SHA and the Alzheimer’s Society have joined forces to dispel the taboos surrounding dementia and to work to improve dementia services in the south west of England. It is estimated that around 6,000 people in Bristol suffer from dementia and this figure is expected to increase by 33% over the next 20 years. However, at present only a third of sufferers are ever officially diagnosed and many others are unaware what support services are available and how to contact them. Key to the campaign is the local implementation of the National Dementia Strategy, which was launched earlier in 2009. The Strategy focuses on raising awareness of dementia and related issues, enabling earlier diagnosis and treatment and improving the standards of care provided to patients. One initiative that has already been launched in Bristol is the provision of a dementia support officer that GPs in the area can call on for specialist advice and help with patients. You can find out more about the campaign at the Bristol Evening Post website.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
13:52

The All-Party Group on Dementia, which raises awareness on dementia amongst MPs, has published a report on social care which highlights a number of concerns around the quality of care provided to dementia sufferers. The issues span care provided both in the patient’s own home and in care homes. The report identified a lack of knowledge and training amongst staff caring for people with dementia. Less than half of domiciliary care staff were found to have received any specialist training and a third of dedicated dementia nursing homes are not giving staff enough training. The four month enquiry also found that the care provided by some staff was ‘dehumanising’, for example, staff being rude and unhelpful to patients. Other evidence gathered showed that where high quality care was being provided by trained staff, this made a significant difference to the patient’s quality of life. MPs have called for adequate training to be provided to all staff caring for dementia sufferers as well as recommending improvements in care quality regulation and staff pay. Care minister Phil Hope responded to the report by expressing his belief that the shortfalls will be met by the implementation of the new national dementia strategy, which was unveiled earlier in the year: ‘The National Dementia Strategy sets out for the first time clear plans to transform dementia care, promote best practice and tackle the misconception that dementia is an inevitable part of ageing. We are determined to make this happen. I want to see a skilled and effective workforce in place to support people with dementia.’ The All-Party report can be read in full on the website of the Alzheimer’s Society, which was involved in the administration and funding of the enquiry.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
13:40

Further to a review of its guidance on NHS prescription of the drug Aricept, The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has decided not to change its current stance – meaning that thousands of patients in the early stages of dementia will continue to be denied the treatment. NICE undertook the review after pharmaceutical companies Eisai and Pfizer, which make Aricept, won their case to enforce a review in the Appeal Court in May 2008. NICE was ordered to disclose details of the economic model that was used to make decisions on the drug’s cost-effectiveness and to submit the model to stakeholders for consultation. Although some changes to the model have been made, NICE chief executive Andrew Dillon stated that: ‘Our Independent Advisory Committee concluded that these were not enough to make these treatments a cost-effective use of NHS resources in the mild stages of the disease.’ The news was met with dismay by the charity Alzheimer’s Society, who commented: ‘Alzheimer’s Society has long campaigned for the thousands of people in the early stages of dementia to be given access to the effective treatments that they are currently denied because of cost. It is completely unacceptable to deny people with dementia the only treatments that could improve quality of life for them and their carers.’ Elsai and Pfizer also expressed their frustration at NICE’s decision as well as their concerns around the quality of the economic model used. However, NICE has now agreed to instigate a new review of the evidence, which will involve the two drug companies as well as other stakeholders, and is due to start in the near future.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
13:04

As part of its Ageing Britain [link to http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/series/ageing-britain] series, the Guardian has published an article on how to stay healthy and reduce the risk of contracting five age-related diseases: cancer, cardiovascular disease, dementia, osteoarthritis and diabetes. Tips include:

• Stop smoking
• Drink alcohol in moderation
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet
• Exercise regularly – but don’t overdo it
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Have your blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly
• Keep active and maintain your social life.

Click hereto read the article in full.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
12:19

The dementia charity Alzheimer’s Society has called on the Government to publish its review of the prescription of antipsychotic drugs to dementia sufferers in care homes. The investigation into the use of these drugs was triggered in June 2008 by concerns of their inappropriate use to control patient behaviour and their dangerous side effects. The Government’s review should have been completed last year, with the report due for publication in spring 2009. It has yet to appear, although the Department of Health has indicated that it will be published shortly. The issue of antipsychotic drugs recently received more publicity when it was revealed that they were being inappropriately administered to dementia sufferers in Scottish care homes – click here to read our report.

In related dementia news:

• Treatment of dementia sufferers in British care home has been described as ‘woefully outdated’ by a leading American researcher. Speaking at The Times Cheltenham Science Festival, Dr John Zeisel said that the prevailing attitude in Britain towards dementia sufferers is reminiscent of Victorian attitudes to conditions such as autism and epilepsy. His chief concerns were the lack of activities and stimulus offered to residents who are ‘languishing in care homes’ and an over-reliance on drug treatment. He told the Times: ‘There needs to be far more non-pharmacological treatment that must be built on people’s capacity — building on the skills that are left, not just trying to fix the functions that people have been robbed of.’ Read more at The Times website.
• A care home in Chesterfield has reported that it has greatly reduced the prescription of antipsychotic drugs to its residents with dementia by introducing doll therapy. Just 28% of residents at Ashcroft Care Home are now being prescribed these drugs, compared to 92% in early 2008. Both staff and families have noticed a great improvement in residents’ wellbeing now that complementary methods such as doll therapy are being used.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
12:12

The charity Alzheimer Scotland has asked for more to be done to protect the human rights of dementia patients living in care homes, after a report published by two watchdogs presented some worrying findings. The report, carried out by the Care Commission and the Mental Welfare Commission, was based on research conducted at 30 care homes with over 1,300 residents being interviewed. Amongst the issues raised in the report are:

• Drugs to control patients’ behaviour being illegally hidden in their food
• 50% of residents never going outside the care home
• Lack of regular health checks and review of medication
• Inadequate details included on residents’ personal plans, such as missing life histories or no record or the individual’s likes and dislikes.

Alzheimer Scotland responded angrily to the report’s findings, with chief executive Harry Simmons commenting: ‘People with dementia must be afforded dignity, respect and liberty within the care home setting…These problems should not be tolerated and cannot be allowed to continue.’ The Scottish Government is to use the report to help create a new national dementia strategy for the country, work on which is already underway. The report, entitled ‘Remember I’m still me’, can be downloaded from the Care Commission’s website.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
11:43

BBC4 has announced that it will air a series of new programmes on issues affecting older people in July 2009. Entitled ‘Grey Expectations’, the broadcasts will focus on health issues such as dementia, stroke and Parkinson’s disease and will feature Royle Family actress Liz Smith as well as comedienne Jo Brand. Comprising a mixture of documentaries, comedies and dramas, the BBC describes the series as ‘contemporary, unique and engaging’ and advises viewers not to expect clichés. BBC4 controller Richard Klein comments that ‘”Grey Expectations” offers rare personal glimpses into experiences of older people. The experiences of people in the eclectic films reflect lives every bit as diverse, rich and varied as their younger counterparts – if not more so.’ You can read more about the series and find out details about individual programmes at the BBC website.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
14:37

A study undertaken by the University of Florida has shown that older people who were overweight but then lost a lot of weight quickly are more at risk of developing dementia. People with a lower Body Mass Index (BMI) were found to be 79% more likely to develop dementia than those with a higher BMI. And those who lost weight quickly during the survey were three times more likely to develop dementia than those who lost weight slowly. The risk became more apparent in those people who had the highest BMIs at the start of the survey and who then went on to lose the most weight. The findings tie in with previous research undertaken in 2006 which found that women who had lost weight up to 10 years earlier went on to experience memory loss. Scientists now consider that a significant loss of weight is one of the earliest physical symptoms that a person is developing dementia. Rebecca Wood of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust agreed that sudden weight loss in the elderly should be a trigger to visit a GP, but warned against putting on weight to ward off memory loss: ‘…obesity is not desirable; in middle age, being overweight can increase dementia risk. The best way to reduce dementia risk is to maintain a balanced diet, regular exercise and frequent social interactions.’

In other dementia news:

• Research carried out at King’s College, London has shown that prolonging the working life and keeping the brain active may help to prevent or slow the development of dementia. The survey found that people who took early retirement tended to develop Alzheimer’s disease earlier than those who carried on working. Other evidence showed that being well educated can also help to ward off the disease. Find out more at the BBC website.
• Best-selling author Terry Pratchett has criticized the patchy provision of dementia support services in certain areas of England. The writer spoke of his concern about the lack of memory clinics which provide vital diagnostic and treatment services for dementia sufferers. In his native Wiltshire there are four clinics, with two in Bristol – but none in Gloucestershire. Read more or listen to an interview with Terry Pratchett at the BBC website.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
14:19

The King’s Fund for Enhancing the Healing Environment has awarded a £30,000 grant to 10 PCTs to enable nurse-led teams to improve living conditions for dementia sufferers. Niall Dickson of the King’s Fund comments: ‘We know that the physical environment in which we care for people affects the way they feel, and this is especially true for people with dementia and those caring for them.’ Projects that will benefit from the funding include an indoor garden at Macclesfield District General Hospital and a social area in Aintree hospital. Another project is the development of satellite navigation systems at the University of Newcastle, which it is hoped will help dementia sufferers avoid getting lost in public places.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
12:27

Hugo Swire, MP for East Devon, will give a talk about dementia to health professionals, carers and relatives of dementia sufferers. The meeting is also open to health authority members, health authority organisations and mental health care providers. It will take place on Saturday 2 May at the Open Door Centre on Church Street in Exmouth. The seminar will cover the problems faced by dementia sufferers and how they can get access to more help. Mr Swire will be talking about the recently-launched National Dementia Strategy and what it will mean for East Devon residents. The Strategy’s aims include raising awareness about dementia and reducing stigma as well as improving early diagnosis and treatment processes. Local care home manager Andy Mack welcome the seminar, commenting: ‘People need to be made aware of how serious an issue dementia is. There needs to be more awareness raised not just in Exmouth and Devon but across the whole country.’ You can read more at the Exmouth Herald’s website.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
12:13

A study conducted by the University of Oxford has found that smaller doses of the popular dementia drug Exelon will reduce side effects whilst having a greater effect on the patient’s cognitive functions. The study used skin patches to compare the traditional, larger dose of the drug with the effects of using a smaller amount. Normal doses of Exelon produce a variety of side effects which were less evident with the reduced dose, whilst the patient’s memory, linguistic ability and capacity to carry out basic tasks were enhanced. On a cognitive scale of zero to 70, patients taking Exelon were found to improve by two points over a period of six months. You can find out more about the study at the Science Daily website.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
12:08

The Alzheimer’s Society is exploring the quality of care that people receive for their dementia when they are admitted to hospital and the challenges that health care professionals face. They are asking people to share their experiences by filling out a questionnaire by the end of May 2009. They would like to hear from people with dementia and carers, nursing staff and nurse managers or ward managers. All information will be treated confidentially and you do not have to give your name. Your views will be used to help ensure that people with dementia in a general hospital setting receive good quality care appropriate for both their physical and mental health needs and that professionals receive better training and support. The survey results will be published later in the year.

This questionnaire is particularly for:

• People who have current or recent experience (in the last two to three years) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Experiences on a general ward rather than accident and emergency, on an intensive care unit or with outpatients.

The questionnaire can be downloaded from the Alzheimer’s Society’s website and returned to Louise Lakey by e-mail at louise.lakey@alzheimers.org.uk or by posting it to:

Louise Lakey

Devon House

58 St Katharine’s Way

London

E1W 1JX.

Alternatively, a copy of the questionnaire and a pre-paid envelope for returning it can be requested from Louise on 020 7423 3581 or at louise.lakey@alzheimers.org.uk.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
12:01

The Alzheimer’s Society’s ‘Worried about your memory?’ campaign has resulted in a large increase in people visiting their GPs to talk about memory problems. Materials encouraging people to talk to their doctor if they were concerned about their memory were distributed to 10,700 GP surgeries across England last year A survey carried out by the Society has shown that up to 50% of people who requested the ‘Worried about your memory?’ booklet after seeing the materials then booked an appointment with their GP. 20% of these subsequently received a diagnosis. And one in seven GPs has reported an increase in the number of people asking for consultations about memory issues. The survey also highlighted GPs’ concerns around dementia, with almost a quarter stating that they had not received enough training on diagnosing and treating dementia whilst 55% lacked information about local dementia support services.

In related news, the Alzheimer’s Society has just launched a new guide which provides essential advice on how to commission services for people with dementia and their carers. The guide has been designed in line with the Government’s National Dementia Strategy, unveiled earlier this year, and is aimed at health and social services commissioners. You can read more and download the guide itself from the Alzheimer’s Society website.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
17:28

The head of the new Care Quality Commission, Cynthia Bower, has vowed to tackle the existing gap between the nation’s health and social care services. The CQC – the new ‘super regulator’ of England’s care services – aims to improve standards across all areas of care, but is starting with a review into healthcare services that are available to care home residents. Charities and campaigners for the elderly have long been drawing attention to the problems faced by this vulnerable group, including the difficulty of accessing primary health services such as dentists, GPs, nurses and dementia specialists. In an interview with BBC News, reported on their website, Ms Bower admits that these problems and the UK’s ageing population present ‘the biggest challenge facing services in the 21st century…more and more people are going to need access to that care that spans across both social services and the NHS.’ However, she believes that the new single regulator will help in this respect as this will …’focus the minds on the issue…(and) look at how the two are working together.’

The review of standards in care homes, launched on 1 April, will look at both public and private sector homes. It will focus on the quality of primary health care services as well as the level of choice available to residents. Ms Bower has said that the CQC will proactively respond to its findings and will fine homes or close services where necessary. The review has been warmly welcomed by charities such as Age Concern, which comments: ‘Too many older people and their families continue to be horribly let down by health and care services. The quality of care they experience is all too often not up to scratch, so it’s encouraging that this is one of the new commission’s first reviews.’^*

The care homes review is likely to be followed by three other special reviews also focusing on the ‘crossover territory’ between health and social care: care for stroke patients, support for people suffering from mental illness and services for families with disabled children.

The CQC’s work is mirrored by the Government’s launch of 16 pilot projects which also aim to improve the way that health and social care services work together. The £4 million scheme will experiment with different ways of integrating services, rather than retaining the traditional boundary between health and social care, to see how standards for both NHS patients and local authority service users can be improved. Each of the 16 projects will tackle the most pressing health needs in their area including dementia, care for the elderly, substance abuse and end of life care. The pilots were launched on 1 April and will run for two years, after which they will be evaluated and the most successful care models integrated into national best practice. To read more and to find out where the 16 pilot projects are taking place, click here.

^* Age Concern and Help the Aged, now united as one charity, have issued a ‘Seven Point Plan’ for the CQC which can be read on Age Concern’s website.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
16:18

The Department of Health has announced the formation of a new framework to regulate the safety and quality of health and social care services. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) comes into effect on 1 April 2009 and replaces the Healthcare Commission, the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and the Mental Health Act Commission. The regulation of all health and social care providers will now be brought together under the ‘umbrella’ of the CQC and it will be illegal for unregistered providers to supply any health and social care services that it regulates.

All care providers, including hospitals, GPs and dental practices, must register with the commission and commit to providing a minimum standard of care and safety to their patients. For the first time, both public and private sector GPs and dentists must register with the new system, which will be introduced in 2010-11. However, NHS organisations such as primary care trusts must register by April 2009 to show compliance with the CQC’s requirements on health-associated infections. Health Minister Ben Bradshaw comments on the new system: ‘The same person may well receive care from both health and social care providers in a range of settings including at their GP surgery, community or residential settings, hospital or from a range of public or independent providers. ‘This is the first time that one single registration framework will ensure that the health and adult social care services people receive will be safe and of a high quality regardless of which organisation is providing it.’

So far, the CQC has received a somewhat cautious welcome. The Alzheimer’s Society comments that it ‘…must provide independent assessment of the (National Dementia) Strategy’s impact and progress to ensure it transforms the lives of people and their carers.’ Meanwhile, Pete Sinden from the LocalGov [link to http://www.localgov.co.uk/index.cfm?method=news.detail&id=77025] website debates whether the new system will help to correct the existing imbalance in Government funding of the NHS and social services.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
11:35

The Alzheimer’s Society has produced a TV advert to raise public awareness of the impact of dementia. The advert was first aired on Channel 5 on 23 March and will be screened a number of times on different channels in March and April. The advert delivers some hard facts about dementia, illustrating that one in three people in the UK aged over 65 will die with the disease. On the Alzheimer’s Society website, Neil Hunt describes how the advert has enabled the Society to communicate with a wide audience and educate them about dementia. The Society’s aims for the commercial echo one of the main objectives of the Government’s National Dementia Strategy: to ensure better knowledge of dementia whilst removing the stigma that surrounds it.

The 30 second commercial can be viewed on the Alzheimer Society’s website via YouTube.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
18:10

The Telegraph reports on work underway at Aston University in Birmingham, where scientists have ‘reprogrammed’ cells taken from a cancerous tumour to make them identical to cells in the human nervous system. It is hoped that the research, funded by the Humane Research Trust, will lead to a greater understanding of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, enabling the development of more effective treatments. Professor Michael Coleman who is leading the research describes the reprogrammed cells as an ‘artificial brain capable of processing thought at the most basic level.’ Neil Hunt, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Society comments that that it is still early days for the study, but ‘…in the future this interesting research could lead to a useful tool for investigating dementia.’

The Telegraph also reports on the new ‘SenseCam’ that has been developed to help dementia sufferers. The device is worn around the neck and takes a photograph every 30 seconds. These are later played back at high speed with the aim of stimulating the patient’s memory through the recreation of their thoughts and feelings as well as visual images. Used over a period of time, the SenseCam has produced significant improvements in the memory of dementia sufferers with acute amnesia. A number of trials are currently being held around the world, after which it is expected that the SenseCam will be commercially available. For the full report, visit the Telegraph’s website.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
18:07

Further to the Prince of Wales’ much-publicised statement , read at the Alzheimer’s Research Trust’s annual conference, Andrew Pierce of the Daily Telegraph calls for him to ‘use his contacts’ to benefit the nation’s ‘caring Cinderellas’. Mr Pierce welcomes the Prince’s contribution to the conference – which focused on funding additional research – but points out that too little is being done for those that care for dementia sufferers. Usually relatives of the patient, carers often suffer in their own right. Mr Pierce, who cared for his father while he had dementia, describes first-hand the practical and emotional difficulties that carers face, whilst pointing out that their unpaid work saves the NHS £6 billion per year. He urges the Prince to publicly champion the plight of the carers by using his influence with ministers such as Health Secretary Alan Johnson to ‘”convene power” for the carers.’ You can read the article in full at the Telegraph’s website.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
14:01

Actor Kevin Whately, who stars in ‘Inspector Morse’ has made a report for the ‘Tonight’ programme about the state of dementia care in the UK. Mr Whately’s experiences of caring for his mother Mary, who suffers from dementia, prompted him to become an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society and campaign to raise awareness of the condition. In the programme, he highlights key issues around dementia care including the struggle to find a suitable care home and obtain funding for care. Mr Whately also looks at methods of diagnosis and treatment, including the three drugs that have been proven to slow the disease’s progression, but which were banned for financial reasons from being prescribed to new patients in 2007 (this decision is currently under review). On the day the programme was broadcast, 23 March, the Daily Mail published an article written by Mr Whately about his experiences of his mother’s dementia. He also describes the discoveries that he made while researching the ‘Tonight’ programme, such as finding out about the SPECAL form of therapy, which makes communication easier for sufferers. The article can be read in full on the Daily Mail website.

‘Kevin Whately on Dementia: Tonight’ was aired on Monday 23 March on ITV at 8pm and will be repeated at 3:20am on Thursday 26 March.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
14:05

The actor Jim Broadbent, speaking at the Alzheimer’s Research Trust’s annual conference, has called on the Government to increase funding into Alzheimer’s research. He also spoke of the distress caused to him and his family by his late mother’s dementia. At the conference, Mr Broadbent appealed to ministers to ‘…think about how they fund research into dementia, which has long been marginalised…we need more people out there discovering, understanding and, ultimately, creating the treatments that people need.’ Mr Broadbent – who won an Oscar for his portrayal of a dementia sufferer’s husband in the film ‘Iris’ – joins a number of celebrities who have recently spoken out about issues surrounding dementia, including Terry Pratchett, Fiona Phillips and the Prince of Wales.

In other dementia news, a NHS Trust is trialling the use of GPS tracking devices for dementia patients with the aim of enabling them to go out safely as they can be easily found. Around 20 patients in the Thames Valley and Somerset areas are taking part in the trial. Their movements will be tracked on a map via a secure website, so that if they get lost or do not return home when expected, their relatives can locate them. A carer can also be notified if the patient strays outside a designated local area. The trial has been welcomed by the Alzheimer’s Society as well as by patients’ relatives, who hope that it will give them more peace of mind whilst giving more freedom to sufferers.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
10:01

The Loughborough Echo reports that a shortage of suitable care home places in the area has led to a delay in finding a place for a dementia patient. The lady in question had to stay in hospital for an extra three weeks while her sons searched for an appropriate care home for her. The family’s local MP, David Taylor has stated his view that there are not enough care home places for dementia sufferers in the Loughborough and NW Leicestershire area and that it has become more difficult for relatives to find suitable care homes. The local branch of the Alzheimer’s Society agrees, revealing that they receive over 40 calls a week on this subject from local residents, a number that has steadily increased over the last 18 months.

Another issue highlighted in the Echo’s report was the quality of care available in the local area, as several homes that are registered for dementia care have been awarded only one star by the Commission for Social Care Inspection. Leicestershire County Council’s director of adult social care, Mike Connell, does not consider there to be a shortage of actual places for dementia sufferers, but comments: ‘I would not suggest however that there is sufficient dementia care, particularly for more severe dementia where homes do need a specific set of skills and skilled training.’

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
09:58

The Prince of Wales has spoken of his grave concerns about the rising number of dementia sufferers in the UK, caused by the nation’s ageing population.  In a written statement prepared for the Alzheimer’s Research Trust’s conference, to be held this week, the Prince urges the scientific community to make every effort to find effective treatments for the disease.  He writes: ‘I am more than conscious of the enormous effect that dementia has on people’s lives and the lives of those who care for them…I thoroughly commend the work of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, and the scientists it funds, in our common battle against the bleak outlook posed by dementia.’

The Trust’s 10^th annual conference is the largest gathering of scientists specialising in the dementia field in the UK and is expected to be ‘a unique step forwards on the path towards a future cure.’ Currently, over 700,000 people in the UK suffer from dementia and this figure is expected to rise to over a million by 2025.  Dementia care costs the UK economy over £17 million per year – more than cancer, heart disease and stroke put together.

In related news, the Daily Mail reports that US scientists have created a test that can detect Alzheimer’s disease before any symptoms have been manifested.  The new test, which measures proteins in spinal fluid, has shown to be 87% accurate in identifying which patients who are showing symptoms such as early memory problems will go on to develop Alzheimer’s.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
17:53

The Prince of Wales has spoken of his grave concerns about the rising number of dementia sufferers in the UK, caused by the nation’s ageing population. In a written statement prepared for the Alzheimer’s Research Trust’s conference, to be held this week, the Prince urges the scientific community to make every effort to find effective treatments for the disease. He writes: ‘I am more than conscious of the enormous effect that dementia has on people’s lives and the lives of those who care for them…I thoroughly commend the work of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, and the scientists it funds, in our common battle against the bleak outlook posed by dementia.’

The Trust’s 10th annual conference is the largest gathering of scientists specialising in the dementia field in the UK and is expected to be ‘a unique step forwards on the path towards a future cure.’ Currently, over 700,000 people in the UK suffer from dementia and this figure is expected to rise to over a million by 2025. Dementia care costs the UK economy over £17 million per year – more than cancer, heart disease and stroke put together.

In related news, the Daily Mail reports that US scientists have created a test that can detect Alzheimer’s disease before any symptoms have been manifested. The new test, which measures proteins in spinal fluid, has shown to be 87% accurate in identifying which patients who are showing symptoms such as early memory problems will go on to develop Alzheimer’s.

posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
10:19