A pioneering gift card scheme rewarded 1,000 family carers across Scotland during Carers Week this month. The gift cards are part of the Scotland Loves Local campaign to support local economies and can only be spent in the areas where they are issued. Scotland’s Towns Partnership interim chief office Kimberley Guthrie, who manages the scheme…
Reporting on its 25th anniversary year, the National Activity Providers Association (NAPA) describes 2022 as a year of “remarkable achievements, significant milestones and profound impact.” It was marked by the first in-person conference for three years and the launch of the NAPA Year of Creativity national campaign, which Executive Director, Hilary Woodhead says in her…
Landscaped gardens can be created in line with the latest research on sensory and cognitive impairment, a newly revised factsheet suggests. “Landscape Design Principles for Dementia Care (2nd edition)” is an updated Housing LIN Factsheet (no 35), which shows how well-designed gardens can enhance residents’ quality of life in housing with care developments. It highlights…
Projects for developing technology-based tools in collaboration with people with dementia have been awarded £1.9 million by the Longitude Prize on Dementia. Grants of £80,000 each have been awarded to 24 projects, funding innovations such as an augmented reality map to prevent people getting lost or confused, high tech specs for facial recognition, and a…
Family carers of people with dementia have a much greater need of formal grief counselling than other groups deemed eligible for bereavement care. Findings from a UCL study of pre-death grief, published in the Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, show that the need for formal counselling for dementia carers was around 300% higher than current predictions…
Wembley Stadium has become the first UK football stadium to be declared dementia friendly, the result of a partnership between the Football Association and Alzheimer’s Society. Public-facing staff such as matchday stewards have received special training, accessibility has been improved, and the website gives clearer information about services useful to people with dementia. The FA…
Researchers have been awarded £500,000 to investigate the link between air pollution and dementia as they seek to understand how air pollution particles enter the brain. There is increasing evidence that exposure to air pollution increases Alzheimer’s risk but the mechanisms underlying the link are unknown. The funding from Alzheimer’s Research UK and Race Against…
Frances Lawrence has been made CEO of Dementia Carers Count (DCC) a national charity for family carers looking after someone with dementia. She has worked for charities since 2007 and has a background in fundraising. Among her employers have been the Prince’s Trust, the NSPCC, and most recently the Young Women’s Trust and said that…
We are pleased to announce that JDC’s owners Dementia Publishing are sponsoring the Leadership category at the NAPA Member Awards in October. This award recognises an individual who is a role model to others, demonstrates a high level of commitment, and is dedicated to excellence in activity provision. The purpose of the awards is to…
A 10-year dementia strategy setting out a long-term vision for change has been published by the Scottish Government. The strategy, titled “Everyone’s Story”, promises to address thorny issues like long waits for a diagnosis, consistent access to good quality post-diagnostic support, well-coordinated care and support, and access to palliative care. Implementation of the strategy will…