The benefits of animal therapy in care homes

Animals in Hands, a mobile zoo, are one of many organisations bringing unusual visitors into care homes for residents to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of animal therapy.    Animals in Hands was set up by former zookeeper Mo Safeer, who is known as the ‘Animal Man’. His care home visits include Royal Star … Read more

Sensory awareness champion, Dr Julie Christie, has died. 

Pioneer of sensory awareness in dementia care, vision and hearing, Dr Julie Christie, died suddenly on 15 January 2024. Journal of Dementia Care editor Sue Benson said: “Julie was an inspiring keynote speaker at our JDC conferences in Scotland. She positively influenced many over her career, and was well-known for her unstinting passion and work … Read more

MSNAP announce webinar programme

Following MSNAP’s webinar for Dementia Community https://youtu.be/Hj1QhYyFGLM?si=zHW1Md6zMdqfOchP, MSNAP have announced their own webinar series for 2024.  Topics include the DETERMIND Study, Dentistry and Dementia, Pre and Post Diagnostic Pathway, and Supporting people and families living with young onset dementia.    You can find out more and book HERE Please note there is a charge to attend … Read more

Supporting better care moves for older people 

A webinar is taking place on 22 February 2024 at 1pm to launch ‘Better Care Moves for Older People’. This will be a knowledge-sharing and networking event aimed at individuals working in adult social care, informal carers/families, people who use social care, researchers, and members of the public who have an interest in this topic.  … Read more

Framework to support veterans in care homes launched

A new website has launched to provide care home managers with insight into how to provide more comprehensive care and support for veterans by achieving Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF) status.   The VFF project, which launched in October 2023, aims to tackle loneliness and isolation and deliver improved health and wellbeing outcomes for the 25,000+ veterans … Read more

TIDE’s work continues with an expanded Carer Development Programme 

After a threat to their survival, TIDE (Together in Dementia Everyday) have announced that they’ve secured funding to continue their work supporting family carers of people with dementia until at least September 2024.  TIDE are expanding their Carer Development Programme, a co-produced course of online events that are designed to help unpaid carers by giving … Read more

Ageism highlighted in new campaign

The Centre for Ageing Better has launched ‘Age Without Limits’, a new campaign shining a light on ageism.   The campaign is aiming to challenge the impact of ageism, highlighting that this can affect an older person’s health, job prospects and the way a person lives their life, with a knock-on effect on society and the … Read more

Air pollution again linked to dementia and stroke

A study looking at the health of more than 413,000 people taking part in the UK Biobank project has reiterated the link between air pollution, brain ill-health and dementia.  Participants were between 40 and 69 years old and free of dementia, cancer or stroke at the start of the study. Their health was tracked, focusing … Read more

‘Carers Active’ – A best practice guide for professionals is launched

Carers UK have created a new guide – ‘Carers Active’ – to support professionals to make a positive difference for unpaid carers by offering tailored activities that encourage them to get active.    The guide builds on responses from nearly 150 professionals and organisations who are seeing the benefits of improved health and wellbeing outcomes for … Read more

Addressing poor LGBTQ+ life course outcomes

The Health and Social Care Workforce Research Unit at KCL, and Primary Care and Population Health at UCL, have joined forces to create a network and webinar series to address the poorer health and wellbeing in later life that the LGBTQ+ community experience.  People from the LGBTQ+ community face inequalities throughout the life course, which … Read more