THE DEMENTIA CHALLENGE CONFERENCE Winter Gardens, Weston-super-Mare Monday 3 rd November 2014 #dementiachallenge
POST-DIAGNOSTIC SUPPORT Carry out research into what post-diagnostic support is actually wanted by those with dementia and their carers Deal with stigma as it is keeping people out of services Consider how to deal with the potential impact of increasing numbers of diagnoses DEMENTIA RISK REDUCTION Normalisation of dementia within the community eg. through Dementia Friends training and work with children & young people Need to build on existing health improvement programmes eg. health checks, healthy schools Need clear health messages and campaigns eg. alcohol & physical activity levels
MUSIC AND MEMORIES Music becomes a ‘connection’ on both the physical & mental level – arouses latent feelings. ‘Music in the Park’ not just in the summer Music sessions widen the opportunity for social contacts & engages those with dementia & their carers Develop into a Dementia Café – particularly open on a Sunday DEMENTIA FRIENDS Support organisations to audit their environment, to see how dementia friendly they are Expand the numbers of dementia friends and champions within organisations Encourage more organisations to sign up to Dementia Action Alliances
VALUING YOUR VOICE Provision of services that are individual to those with dementia and their carers To voice individual needs requires that the people providing the services have enough time to listen effectively Barriers include: – Putting in place what is promised – Quicker diagnosis & post-diagnosis support – Everyone pulling in different directions SUPPORT FOR CARERS Education & training for carers Support for carers in their workplace Telephone support for carers 24/7 Free access for getting a sitter All information for carers on ONE leaflet (as HOPE in BaNES) Free access to exercise in the gym for carers
INTERGENERATIONAL WORK Intergenerational work requires the input of providers to ensure it is sustainable & effective Resources & recognisable branding are fundamental Resources focused at children shifts the way young people & children understand and relate. It can effect the whole family positively SPECIALIST MEMORY ASSESSMENT SERVICE In-reach into care homes to enable diagnosis of those residents that do not currently have one. Develop this feature further Continue to develop support for GPs to assist them in diagnosing dementia in non-complex cases, but ensure the memory service handles complex & specialist cases
USING iPADS Enabling WiFi provision in care settings to make the benefits of technology more accessible Need to take more account of a person’s life history in working with and supporting people with dementia iPad technologies can be preventative in terms of retaining cognitive abilities WHAT REALLY COUNTS IN A DEMENTIA CARE HOME Care means something, not just ‘caring’ for someone. Do not become a passive bystander Ask ‘Is this what I would want if it was happening to me?’ Ensure that those with dementia are still part of the community