Research priorities
Research programmes have tended to focus on finding a disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer’s, but how can we channel more funding into research to improve care and quality of life? Read More
Work with local communities
Former Department of Health (DH) civil servant Ruth Eley – now chair of the carer involvement group tide (Together in Dementia Everyday) – gave short shrift to the government’s proposed Major Conditions Strategy (MCS), a combined strategy for dementia and five other conditions including cancer and heart disease. Read More
Staff development and culture change
Care providers contributing to a session on staff development said that culture change was essential for training to make a difference. Lynne Phair, who has advised East Midlands care home group Milford Care, said introducing the Montessori Way in dementia care had “transformed the culture” of the organisation. Read More
Prescribing non-pharmacological interventions
The power of non-pharmacological interventions to improve wellbeing was illustrated by a project to find out the causes of distressed behaviours and respond accordingly. Read More
Reconsidering Dementia books launched
Open University Press’s “Reconsidering Dementia” series continues to grow with four new books in the pipeline to add to the five books already published. Read More
Sleep problems and solutions
Sleep is a significant problem for people with Lewy body dementia – 40% of people with Alzheimer’s have sleep problems, compared with 90% of those with Lewy body dementia. Read More
Award-winning Hear Well project
Hearing loss has been identified as a major modifiable risk factor for dementia with a Lancet study suggesting that 8% of dementia cases could be prevented with proper hearing loss management. Read More
Gardens – a mirror to care culture
There is a direct correlation between person-centred care and the use of a care home’s garden, according to garden designer Debbie Carroll from Step Change Design. Read More
Wishing Washing Line
Alive is a Bristol-based charity working creatively in care settings to develop person-centred activities and CEO Isobel Jones described the Wishing Washing Line project as an example. Read More
Intergenerational community
Belong Chester offers dementia care with a distinct difference, in that it is part of an intergenerational community in which there is a 25-place nursery alongside independent living apartments, day care and 24 hour support “households”. Read More