Waiting times for memory assessment services increased markedly during the pandemic, an audit conducted by the Royal College of Psychiatrists has indicated. Average waiting times from memory service referral to diagnosis increased by more than a third between 2019 and 2021, rising from 13 weeks to 17.7 weeks on average. The audit also indicated that…
Prescriptions for harmful antipsychotics leapt by 50% in dementia care during the pandemic, research led by Exeter University and King’s College London has found. The research, presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) in San Diego, showed that 28% of people with dementia in care homes had been prescribed antipsychotic medication compared with 18%…
Life drawing classes are among the varied activities at Sherwood Grange care home in London. When residents at the Care UK home were asked about their model preferences, nearly all said a “nice handsome man.” Resident Rosemary Lester is pictured checking for accuracy: “I was very glad to take part in the class, I hadn’t…
Alzheimer’s Society has teamed up with the government-funded National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to invest £7.5 million in 45 new post-doctoral posts in dementia research. It is hoped that the investment will counter a recent decrease in the number of early career researchers in the field and ultimately improve care, diagnosis and…
Gaps remain in how vulnerable people are protected in care settings, a powerful parliamentary committee has found. The Joint Committee on Human Rights warns that human rights in care settings are at risk and that cardio-pulmonary resuscitation notices and deprivation of liberty safeguards are often misapplied. In its report “Protecting human rights in care settings”…
New findings have called into question the “amyloid hypothesis” for Alzheimer’s disease, which holds that clumps of amyloid beta protein in the brain are the primary cause of the disease. Work by neuroscientist Matthew Schrag, published in the US journal Science, suggests that data underpinning the hypothesis are flawed. Several top Alzheimer’s researchers in the…
A majority of people with dementia reside in the community, yet the support needed for social inclusion and a life well lived is not widely available, says a report from the Dementia Change Action Network (DCAN). DCAN, founded in 2020 as a collaborative network focused on personalised care, made its name during the pandemic, sharing…
NHS leaders have warned of a social care workforce crisis which will only worsen this winter, piling pressure on hospital beds. Nearly all NHS leaders said that lack of capacity in social care is putting the care and safety of patients at risk. Responding to an NHS Confederation survey of almost 250 leaders, they said…
Winchester care home St Catherine’s View celebrated its 10th anniversary with a “Hatter’s tea party” and a wardrobe of fancy dress costumes. Among guests at the Alice in Wonderland-themed party was “Alice” herself, clinical lead Hayley Geddes, who is pictured with resident Christina Millest. “Our Hatter’s tea party was a lovely opportunity to celebrate and we…
A practical guide called Living in the Moment seeks to help overcome challenges and find moments of joy in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. According to publishers Sheldon Press the book – by geriatrician Dr Elisabeth Landsverk – challenges the common misconception that dementia means “it’s all over”. Among the practical solutions on offer are…