Category Archives: dementia

Dogs to help people with dementia

April 27, 2012   Alzheimer’s, Carers, dementia

Dogs that make people with dementia more confident and a scent device to improve appetites are two designs that have won official approval

 

Dementia dogs can be trained to offer specialised support for people with dementia.

Five teams, £360,000 and 20 weeks to research and design a product or service to help people living with dementia. It sounds like something from The Healthcare Apprentice but the Design Council and Department of Health has unveiled five projects that they hope will significantly improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers. They calculate that the combined social return value of the project will be £500m.

Among the projects is dementia dog, a programme training specially selected assistance dogs to improve the confidence, wellbeing and support of people with dementia; online tool grouple, which helps families plan and share the care of a person with dementia; and ode, a plug-in device that emits aromas at set times to improve appetite and eating patterns.

Alongside the buddiband, and trading times, the projects were selected from more than 150 entries to be given funding and support from an expert panel including Gill Ayling, deputy director of older people and dementia at the Department of Health, and Joshua Hardie, the head of corporate responsibility at Tesco.

Read More

The plight of Scotland’s carers must be addressed,

April 24, 2012   Carers, dementia, Scotland

The plight of Scotland’s carers

Apr 24 2012 By Craig McQueen

tommy whitelaw

EIGHTEEN months ago, full-time carer Tommy Whitelaw was struggling to cope.

His mother Joan, 72, has vascular dementia, leaving her unable to perform the simplest of tasks or even recognise him.

As the illness progressed, Tommy found himself isolated, cut off from friends and family and from services, which could help.

With the stress taking its toll, the Glasgow 49-year-old visited his GP and began getting some of the help he needed. But Tommy knew he wasn’t the only one and decided then to do something about it.

He embarked on a tour of Scotland, collecting letters from carers detailing their experiences.

Read More

It’s an uphill struggle with dementia

April 19, 2012   Alzheimer’s, Carers, dementia

It’s an uphill struggle with dementia – and there’s not enough awareness out there

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Carers of loved ones with dementia have spoken out about the difficulties they face – ahead of a roadshow visiting Scunthorpe for the first time.

With more than 2,000 people estimated to be living with dementia in North Lincolnshire, the Alzheimer’s Society’s roadshow will provide much-needed information and advice about the condition.

Read More