News

  • Diary of a carer

    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…

  • Design guidance

    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,…

  • Exercise programmes

    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,…

  • Living wage

    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…

  • Young dementia webinar

    The Young Dementia Network has announced details of its next webinar, “Young onset dementia: Changing perceptions of diagnosis” taking place at 12.30pm on 8 February.  Presenter will be Dr Susan Mitchell, head of policy at Alzheimer’s Research UK, who will be accompanied by a panel of experts and will focus on the preferences of people…

  • Toolkit on antipsychotics

    The London and Yorkshire & Humber Clinical Networks have developed a toolkit on appropriate prescribing of antipsychotic medication in dementia.  Its aim is to promote good practice and to reduce variation in prescribing practice between the regions of England.  The resource is intended to support primary care, care homes and memory assessment services, among others,…

  • New book series

    A new “Reconsidering Dementia” series of books being published by Open University Press aims to challenge and engage readers to take a fresh look at aspects of dementia care. Edited by Keith Oliver and Dawn Brooker, the series will cover a wide range of topics from psychotherapy, ethical issues, and the role of leisure to…

  • Gene research

    A genetic alternative to the dominant current belief that Alzheimer’s disease is caused by a build-up of toxic proteins known as amyloids has been put forward in research published in the journal Nature. A quarter of the population carries one copy of the gene known as APOE4 and this inheritance from one parent doubles the…

  • Hennell Award for Stuart Wright

    Brunelcare dementia care lead Stuart Wright has won the 2022 Hennell Award for innovation and excellence in dementia care.  The award, presented by the University of Worcester’s Association for Dementia (ADS) Studies, recognises people who have significantly contributed to promoting person-centred care. ADS’s Dr Chris Russell commended Wright’s “clear and inspirational leadership qualities”. Wright, who…

  • Paying their respects

    Royal Star & Garter’s senior marketing and communications manager Michelle Danks (left) is pictured at the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Sunday, with resident Vera and wellbeing coordinators Leslie and Suzie from the charity’s Surbiton care home for armed forces veterans. “It made me think of the many veterans I have met over the years…