Dementia in hospital

Alzheimer’s Society has republished its website advice on improving hospital experiences for people affected by dementia, pointing out that those with the condition spend on average four times longer in hospital following a fall than others. The blog post identifies what is keeping people in hospital for longer than necessary and suggests solutions.  Among the…

Dawn Brooker retires

Dawn Brooker, Director of the Association for Dementia Studies (ADS) at the University of Worcester, has now retired and become an Emeritus Professor at the University. Dr Shirley Evans, who has led the Meeting Centre programme at ADS, is now its Interim Director and will represent the association on Dementia Publishing’s Advisory Board. Professor Brooker…

Memory Spinners

Scottish Opera has revived its Memory Spinners project, which has been suspended during the pandemic, to bring music and art to people with dementia.  In weekly sessions designed to engage people with dementia, taking place at St Columba’s church in Glasgow and the Byre in St Andrews, rehearsals and visual arts activities build towards a…

US research funding boost

While UK government funding of dementia research is falling the US Congress has announced a $289 million increase for Alzheimer’s and dementia research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). For the fiscal year 2022, this includes $25 million to fund and implement the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act, which creates a public health infrastructure…

Memory assessment best practice

A best practice guide for memory assessment services (MAS) has been produced by the Centre for Dementia Research at Leeds Beckett University, which was commissioned by NHS England and Improvement Cymru. The “Taking Memory Assessment Services into the Future” good practice guide was developed by professionals and people with experience of these services. Professor Claire…

Keeping active

Keeping active: Residents in care homes across the country have been getting physical as part of a project involving the “Green Goddess”, a breakfast TV fitness star from the 1980s. Care UK’s Let’s Get Physical initiative encourages residents to “try something new,” including seated ballet classes and disco yoga.  Salisbury Manor residents Deanna Barnett and…

Brain health: new app

Brain Health Scotland, hosted and supported by Alzheimer Scotland, has launched a new online app to help people look after their brains.  The My Brain Health Plan online quiz app presents users with a few simple questions about their life and routine before generating personalised tips and advice to assist them with their own brain…

Care Innovation Challenge

Anyone keen to come up with new ideas for solving problems in the care sector is invited to apply for a Care Innovation Challenge weekend in July.  Cash prizes, expert mentoring and the prospect of media coverage are on offer to the creative thinkers who participate in the weekend, hosted by the Care Innovations Hub,…

Care funding: changes urged

As the Health and Care Bill reached the final stages of its progress through parliament on 23 March, Alzheimer’s Society urged the government to make last-minute changes to its plans for funding social care. The charity warned that up to 80% of people living with dementia would not benefit from a proposed cap of £86,000…

Higher risk of dementia

A major research study published in the BMJ has shown that people were at higher risk of developing dementia following a Covid-19 infection.  Scientists found that almost a third of older adults (32%) who got Covid-19 in 2020 went on to develop at least one new medical condition in the months after infection, compared with…