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…
An Alzheimer’s drug from the Japanese pharmaceutical firm Eisai has been shown to slow down patients’ decline in memory, thinking and function in the final stage of trials. The drug, called lecanemab, demonstrated promising results in a phase 3 trial and works by removing Alzheimer’s trademark amyloid protein from the brain. Early results indicated that…
Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire Nigel Atkinson has presented the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service to Dementia-friendly Alton. The ceremony took place at Alton Community Centre, the home of the Memory Lane Club, earlier in December. It was rescheduled from September following the death of the Queen.
Members of the Crewe community are being invited to a new intergenerational playgroup designed to bring people together and promote relationships between all ages. ‘Across the Generations’ stay-and-play is aimed at parents, guardians, and their little ones, offering them the chance to spend some quality time with older people residing at Belong Crewe care village…
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…