Plans for a national dementia strategy
Dreadful to read that so many people with dementia do not even get a diagnosis which could help improve their care ..The Mental Health Foundation report that: "The Government is to produce the first ever national dementia strategy in response to one of the great challenges now facing society.
Speaking during a visit to a mental health centre for older people in North Kensington, Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis said:
"The scale of our ambition must now meet the scale of the challenge as demographic realities mean dementia will impact on an increasing number of families in our society. The current system is failing too many dementia sufferers and their carers".
"I am determined that this disease is brought out of the shadows. We need to minimise the shame and fear associated with dementia so that people and their relatives feel able to seek support at the earliest possible stage in the knowledge they will get expert help and be treated with dignity and respect."
There are currently around 600,000 people with dementia in England - a figure which is set to double in the next thirty years.
Despite an estimated investment of £3.3bn per annum, recent reports and feedback tell us that there are three key issues where improvements have to be made. These are:
* Better Awareness - Addressing the stigma of dementia in society and ensuring that individuals and their family members recognise the early signs of dementia so symptoms are not wrongly attributed to "old age" and patients are referred quickly for diagnosis.
Examples of these early signs are:
When you or your family feel that your memory has got worse for recent events;
When your family and friends notice that you are repeating the same phrases and questions over again.
When your family and friends notice that you are not looking after yourself as well as usual.
* Early Diagnosis - ensuring the diagnosis of dementia is made accurately and early by clinicians, so people with dementia and their families can receive appropriate support.
* High quality treatment- improving services so that people with dementia receive high quality treatment and support, which maximises their quality of life and ensures they are treated with dignity and respect.
Ivan Lewis continued:
"Dementia is a unique illness with devastating consequences. We know that as people live longer an increasing number of families will have to cope with the harsh realities of dementia.
"It is of utmost importance that we have the right services in place for people with dementia as well as those who love and care for them. By concentrating on improving awareness, diagnosis and managing the disease we will help transform the lives of those with dementia by improving their quality of life."
Labels: dementia undiagnosed
posted by Jen @ 5:38 AM
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