Author Archives: Maureen
Look out for dementia warning signs, families urged
Families are being urged to look out for the warning signs of dementia when they visit their elderly relatives.
It is part of a government advertising campaign in England aimed at encouraging early diagnosis.
Universal flu vaccine to end annual jabs
A vaccine that could end the need for annual winter flu injections by offering lifelong protection against all strains of the virus has been developed by scientists.
By Richard Gray, Science Correspondent
8:00AM GMT 06 Nov 2011
The new universal flu vaccine, which researchers say will only need to be administered once, has been found to be effective against a number of different types of influenza virus, including the deadly avian flu and pandemic swine flu strains.
Flu viruses are highly changeable so elderly people and pregnant women, who are particularly vulnerable to the illness, are currently given new vaccinations each year to ensure they are protected.
Small-scale clinical trials on the new vaccine – known as Flu-v – have shown that it can significantly reduce infection and also cut the severity of symptoms.
100,000 abuse cases on elderly and vulnerable in one year
No one should have to put up with abuse.
Almost 100,000 elderly and vulnerable people reported abuse last year.
An NHS Information Centre report found that of 94,500 such incidents logged last year, 39,300 cases – or 42% – were said to have taken place in the alleged victim’s home.
A further 35% occurred in care homes, the report said.
The data comes from cases of abuse reported to English councils’ adult safeguarding teams between April 2010 and March 2011.
