Following a successful trial in partnership with Police Scotland, Alzheimer Scotland are distributing free SafeConnect fobs for people living with dementia in Scotland. SafeConnect are yellow fobs that store a person’s emergency contact details so they can be supported to return home safely if they are lost. The fobs use Near Field Communication (NFC) which…
A study published in Science has linked the development of Lewy body dementia with air pollution. Scientists found that fine-particulate air pollution, known as PM2.5, triggered the formation of toxic clumps of protein that killed nerve cells in the brain. PM2.5 can be inhaled deep into the lungs and detected in the bloodstream, brain and…
Carers UK has launched a report entitled ‘A fresh approach to supporting unpaid carers – Our vision for delivering the NHS 10 Year Health Plan in England’. The report looks at unpaid carers’ experiences of the NHS and responds to the NHS 10 Year Health Plan for England (that we last covered here: https://journalofdementiacare.co.uk/uk-government-launch-fit-for-the-future-10-year-health-plan-for-england). The…
The National Garden Scheme and The Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing (QICN) are inviting applications for NGS Elsie Wagg (Innovation) Scholarships. NGS Elsie Wagg (Innovation) Scholarships, which are awarded to nurses, aim to show how gardening and garden visiting can promote physical, mental and emotional health. The application process is open to all nurses working…
A study published in Brain Communications has shown that the Fastball test can be used at home to reliably detect memory decline in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Fastball is an EEG test that measures a person’s brainwaves. It involves the participant having a cap placed on their head and watching images on a…
A study published in the Annual Review of Developmental Psychology has suggested that autistic adults aged over 40 face greater risks of physical and mental illness than their non-autistic peers. The research, conducted by King’s College London, outlines how autistic adults are more likely to develop certain health conditions, including young onset dementia, and how…
HP Homecare has launched a free dementia training resource called ‘Dementia Compass’. ‘Dementia Compass’ is designed to give carers, families and providers practical strategies for supporting people with dementia at home. It’s been developed by HP’s nursing and care team, and combines evidence-based guidance with real-world learning, covering areas such as communication, recognising behaviour as…
Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) has worked with Nottingham City Learning Disability and Autism Partnership Board (SPLAT) to create two new easy read leaflets about dementia. The leaflets were co-created – from wording to design – with people who have learning disabilities to ensure each leaflet is as clear and helpful as possible. Links to download…
Alzheimer’s Society has published tips to help people with dementia and unpaid/family carers to manage their gas, heating and energy usage over the winter. Included in the advice is the following: “The confusion and forgetfulness that dementia typically brings means people with the condition can be more vulnerable to overconsumption and mismanagement of their energy….
The UK Government has announced plans to train nurses as genomics champions to work in their local communities as part of a genomic population health service. The aim is to identify, prevent, diagnose and treat health conditions quicker – including neurological conditions – by providing more timely access to DNA testing for inherited causes of…