Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) has accused the government of a “worrying lack of focus and urgency” in dealing with the drop in dementia diagnosis rates resulting from the pandemic. Diagnosis rates – now hovering around 62% – are at a five year low, said ARUK, and the government’s target of 67% had not been met…
New guidance has been published to help care homes support people with learning disabilities who have a diagnosis of dementia. The guidance, titled “My new home: Supporting people with an intellectual/learning disability and advanced dementia moving into a care home,” has been developed in a partnership between Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Alzheimer Scotland, University of Stirling…
Expert training in reminiscence arts in dementia care is being offered in the New Year. Taking place on 9 and 10 January, in Halesworth, Suffolk, the two-day course for “Remembering Yesterday, Caring Today” will be run by Pam Schweitzer, a renowned reminiscence arts practitioner and founder of the European Reminscence Network. There will also be…
Vibrant Communities and Keychange have been awarded “Highly Commended” for their Praise, Prayer and Togetherness online community. They won this recognition as part of the Great British Care Awards (South West Region). The partnership between the two charities was nominated under the “Putting People First” category and scooped the award after competing with 12 other…
The charity Music for my Mind promises the “ultimate Christmas playlist” if people respond to its appeal for their favourite festive tunes. Music for my Mind says it will share the resulting playlist on its social media channels. Just send your favourites, including those of people living with dementia or memory loss, to this email…
“Put decorations up gradually” is part of new advice from Alzheimer’s Society on supporting people with dementia at Christmas. It is top of the list in a blog on the Society’s website which offers “8 ways to support somebody with dementia at Christmas”. Among the other points are “keep it simple and familiar” and “create…
A new diary titled Where Are You? describes the innermost feelings of a carer who supported her husband with Parkinson’s and subsequently dementia. Author Katie Herdman shares diary entries from the last months of her husband Jim’s life (he died in August 2020), taking readers through the storm of conflicting emotions that she experienced. Publishers…
A toolkit from Dimensions aims to help health centres adapt to the needs of people with dementia, among other conditions. The “Designing for Everyone” kit forms part of Dimensions’ #MyGPandMe health equality campaign and will help GP practices to improve the design and physical environment of their buildings. Commissioned by primary care building specialists Assura,…
Bespoke exercise programmes for care home residents have been launched by Royal Star & Garter using the physiotherapy app Physiotec. After each resident has been individually assessed, the home’s physiotherapist then uses the app to create a tailored set of exercises for each one. Gursh Lotay, physio at Royal Star & Garter’s home in Solihull,…
Housing and care provider Anchor has become a Real Living Wage employer, agreeing to pay staff a minimum of £10.90 an hour outside London and £11.95 within London. The provider employs over 9,000 staff across the country and claims to be the largest to achieve accreditation as a living wage employer by the Living Wage…