Category Archives: dementia

Mystery benefactor funds new dementia support workers at N&N

January 17, 2014   Carers, dementia, Norfolk

A mystery benefactor has helped fund three new support workers at Norfolk’s biggest hospital to provide more support to patients with dementia, their families and carers.

Dementia support at the N&N. Support worker Adele McCrory with Ann Saunders and the 'This is Me' book about her father John Goldie. Photo: Bill Smith Dementia support at the N&N. Support worker Adele McCrory with Ann Saunders and the ‘This is Me’ book about her father John Goldie. Photo: Bill Smith

Adam Gretton Health correspondent adam.gretton@archant.co.uk
Friday, January 17, 2014
6:30 AM

The dementia support workers have begun working on inpatient wards at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital with the aim of enhancing the experience of patients with Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia

The three new roles, which also offer specialist advice and support to the relatives and carers of people with dementia, have been funded by a local charity who have asked to remain anonymous.

Officials from the N&N said the donation would fund the dementia support workers for five years and the hospital would look to extend the roles to outpatient services in the future.

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Dying patients should be exempt from social care charges

January 15, 2014   Cancer, Carers, dementia, Social care, ukcuts
We need to talk about end-of-life care so fewer people face a lonely death in hospital. Free social care would be a start

theguardian.com,

 

A massage therapist works on the feet of a terminally ill hospice resident.

This week the care bill committee is debating who should be eligible for social care. MPs will also consider whether to add a clause that would enable exemption from social care charges for those at the end of their lives.

The amendment would also establish the need for better forward planning about where we would like to die. Most of us would prefer to be at home surrounded by the people we love, yet fewer than one in three are currently able to do so.

Why is it that 89% of those who die in hospital do so following an unplanned admission? In many cases it is because of the sheer exhaustion that comes with providing around-the-clock care. At the end of life there may be a period of days, but sometimes far longer, of complete dependency. Families go to enormous lengths to cope but, especially where there is only one person in a position to provide care, the elastic can only stretch so far.

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Retired nurse aiming to tailor dementia treatment for sufferers

January 11, 2014   Alzheimer’s, Carers, dementia, Norfolk

Retired psychiatric nurse Lois Ransome is launching a business helping people with dementia to “come alive” in their own homes.

Saturday, January 11, 2014
12:30 PM

Retired pyschiatric nurse Lois Ransome is launching a business helping people with dementia to Retired pyschiatric nurse Lois Ransome is launching a business helping people with dementia to “come alive” in their own homes. “Bring Me Sunshine” Picture: James Bass

The 56-year-old said she had seen for herself the benefits of engaging with sufferers and wants to combine her passion with enterprise.

And by re-connecting people with dementia or Parkinson’s disease with their memories they could make more of today and feel valued, she said.

Mrs Ransome, who has worked within the NHS at Northgate in Great Yarmouth and in care homes, believed her business was unique in Norfolk, chiming with government thinking about helping people to stay in their own homes.Her work involves helping the mostly old folk maintain what function they have and to add interest to their lives they can share with others.

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