Author: JDCteam

  • Workforce crisis

    NHS leaders have warned of a social care workforce crisis which will only worsen this winter, piling pressure on hospital beds. Nearly all NHS leaders said that lack of capacity in social care is putting the care and safety of patients at risk. Responding to an NHS Confederation survey of almost 250 leaders, they said…

  • In Wonderland

    Winchester care home St Catherine’s View celebrated its 10th anniversary with a “Hatter’s tea party” and a wardrobe of fancy dress costumes.  Among guests at the Alice in Wonderland-themed party was “Alice” herself, clinical lead Hayley Geddes, who is pictured with resident Christina Millest. “Our Hatter’s tea party was a lovely opportunity to celebrate and we…

  • Live in the moment

    A practical guide called Living in the Moment seeks to help overcome challenges and find moments of joy in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.  According to publishers Sheldon Press the book – by geriatrician Dr Elisabeth Landsverk – challenges the common misconception that dementia means “it’s all over”.  Among the practical solutions on offer are…

  • Care Innovation Challenge

    Bright ideas have been much in evidence in the Care Innovation Challenge, revived after a pause during Covid-19 and now overseen by the National Care Forum. Entrants gathered for a creative weekend in Coventry University’s Technopark in early July and five teams were selected to present their innovations at the Care Show in October.  Ideas…

  • Keeping cool and hydrated

    As the temperature soared passed 40 degrees in some parts of the UK last week, Alzheimer’s Society published a blog on how to support somebody living with dementia in hot weather. Dehydration is a common challenge for older people, especially those living with dementia, the blog warns.  Memory problems make it easy to forget to…

  • Prevention campaign

    Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) has thrown its weight behind a multi-sector campaign for the UK government to put prevention at the heart of its levelling up agenda. One of 47 organisations and charities joining the campaign coalition, ARUK says better prevention of dementia, among other conditions, would lay the foundation of a fairer, healthier nation….

  • Carers at crisis point

    More than half of family carers of a person with dementia say that they have reached crisis point in the last year and one in five carers report that they have had to admit loved ones to A&E due to a lack of support. A survey of 1,000 people by Alzheimer’s Society heard that 54%…

  • Healthy walks

    The NHS in Scotland has introduced an innovative service to deliver healthy walks to people living with dementia to enable them to live as long as possible in their local community. Charity Pilgrim Care has employed nurse Cath Carter to deliver person-centred Healthy Walks in St Andrews one of which – Botanic Gardens group –…

  • Career move

    Career move: Marking Carers Week in June, Tony Davidson Cowen told how he gave up his job to become a full-time carer for his mum Maureen (both pictured), who has Alzheimer’s. Tony, who had to move from Manchester to Melling in Lancashire, says there are good days and bad days.  “Sometimes it helps to step…

  • NAPA conference: focus on creativity

    At a lively conference in London in June, held to celebrate NAPA’s 25th year and national programme Arts in Care Homes, a wide variety of speakers shared ideas and experience of encouraging creativity and meaningful engagement in activity. Keynote speaker Jackie Pool, QCS Dementia Care Champion, focused attention on the words ‘meaningful’ and ‘engagement’, suggesting…