New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicates that, of the 137,321 people who died from Covid-19 in England and Wales in 2020 and 2021, just over one in five (21.8%) had dementia. While dementia was the most common pre-existing condition in 2020, it was the third most common in 2021, behind diabetes…
Technology to help people stay independent in their own homes is the focus of a prize worth more than £4 million launching in September. The Longitude Prize on Dementia, announced by Alzheimer’s Society, Innovate UK and the Medical Research Council, is designed to incentivise the development of new assistive technologies. Overseen by Challenge Works, an…
An ingrained practice of “pad culture” in the management of incontinence on hospital wards is having a damaging impact on the dignity and independence of people with dementia, an in-depth study has found. Conducted by the University of West London’s Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory, the study of six wards in three hospitals identified…
Research undertaken by Dr Karan Jutlla of the University of Wolverhampton to understand to understand experiences of post-diagnostic dementia support of post-diagnostic dementia support for the south Asian community in England received coverage in The Guardian recently. To read the full report visit: https://drjutlla.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/FULL-PROJECT-REPORT.pdf This work was commissioned by Alzheimer’s Society and has fed into…
Star turn: A soldier who narrowly survived enemy attacks while serving in Burma during the second world war has celebrated his 100th birthday. Peter Whiteley was born in Burma on 14 June 1922 and celebrated his birthday at the Royal Star & Garter care home in Surbiton. As well as his birthday card from the…
A technology innovator called Music Health has launched “Vera”, a music app designed for people with dementia. Users of the Vera app can access the catalogue of the Universal Music Group (UMG), a leading music entertainment company, to create their own personalised music stations. The charity Music for Dementia has welcomed the launch. According to…
Poor heart health is a better predictor of dementia risk for individuals than their genetic profile, researchers led by Oxford and Exeter Universities have discovered. Someone with multiple health conditions affecting the heart was three times more likely to develop dementia than someone with a high genetic risk, they found. The study, published by the…
The annual Margaret Butterworth Award has been given a new lease of life by NAPA (National Activity Providers Association), which is taking over the Award for front line staff in health and social care. Butterworth died in 2002 but colleagues established the Award in her memory to recognise the work of health care assistants, activity…
Tributes have been pouring in for Baroness Sally Greengross, a former director general of Age Concern and a tireless champion for older people, who died on 23 June. Baroness Greengross chaired the all party parliamentary group (APPG) on dementia, doing much to raise the profile of dementia and put it on the political agenda. “It’s…
Vacancy rates in social care have almost doubled in a year, data from Skills for Care show. In May vacancy rates were 10.3%, compared with 5.8% in May 2021. “Following the peak of the pandemic, vacancy rates have been rising and are now higher than they were pre-covid,” Skills for Care said. “An increase in…