A new blood test developed at Pittsburgh University may hold the key to diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease relatively inexpensively. Results published in the journal Brain show that the test reliably detects a biomarker called “brain-derived tau”, using an antibody that selectively binds this protein found specifically in the blood of people with Alzheimer’s. “At present, diagnosing…
Expert training in reminiscence arts in dementia care is to be held at the University of Greenwich over two days later this month. Scheduled for 19 and 20 January, the experiential course will be led by experienced practitioners and trainers with input from volunteers and former carers. It will be certificated by the European Reminiscence…
A sharp rise in the proportion of dementia care homes rated “inadequate” or “requires improvement” has been recorded by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), according to an exclusive story in the Guardian. It shows more than 50% of care homes offering dementia care in England and subject to inspection were rated in these categories in…
Social care workers are paid 41% less than their NHS equivalents, contributing to an unprecedented rise in vacancy rates. This is the verdict of a new report called Unfair to Care, commissioned by the charity Community Integrated Care, which demonstrates that social care workers earn more than £8,000 less than their NHS counterparts. Social care…
In his New Year message Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby called for action to fix “broken” social care while praising the work of carers. Speaking during a visit to MHA’s Bradbury Grange care home in Whitstable, he also flagged up the forthcoming Care and Support Reimagined report, due to be published on 24 January by…
Christmas treat: Team members dressed up for a Christmas play at Edenmore Nursing Home, run by Evolve Care Group in Ilfracombe, Devon. Home manager Gayle Copper said: “When we asked some of the family members what show they would like the team to put on for them this year a few of them suggested a nativity. The script…
Tony Jameson-Allen and Chris Wilkins, co-founders of the dementia reminiscence charity Sporting Memories, have been awarded MBEs in the New Year Honours. They started the charity in 2011 and there are now more than 100 Sporting Memories clubs supporting older people across England, Scotland and Wales. Wilkins, CEO of Sporting Memories, said the clubs used…
50 challenges in 500 days: How do you raise more than £11,000 for Alzheimer’s research? If you’re Shelle Luscombe, who has just turned 50 herself and lives in south-west London, you get friends, family and strangers to set you 50 challenges which you have to complete in 500 days in exchange for a donation. Among…
Anchor, the not-for-profit housing and care provider, has shown its commitment to older workers by signing up to the Age-friendly Employer Pledge. Part of the Centre for Ageing Better’s (CAB) campaign to make more workplaces age-friendly, the pledge supports businesses to improve conditions for older workers. Anchor says it will work with CAB to strengthen…
Charity Parkinson’s UK has launched a campaign for better training of social care staff on Parkinson’s-related dementia. Carers of people with the condition signed more than 1,200 postcards delivered to Whitehall as part of the charity’s “Nobody Really Knows Us” campaign. It urges the government to allocate some of the £500 million it has earmarked…