James Nesbitt speaking about dementia

Actor James Nesbitt’s anguish at the turmoil of dementia

By Lesley-Anne McKeown – 12 March 2013
Actor James Nesbitt has told of the relief he felt after his mother lost her lengthy battle against Alzheimer’s disease.

Care Quality Commission said both hospitals and care homes were failing in key areas

Health and care system ‘struggling with dementia’

By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News

 The number of people with dementia is on the rise

The health and care system in England is “struggling” to look after people with dementia, according to the regulator.

The Care Quality Commission said both hospitals and care homes were failing in key areas as the number with the condition rose as people lived longer.

It found dementia patients in hospital were more likely to face longer stays, be readmitted and die there.

Meanwhile, care homes were not doing enough to keep patients well, it added.

The CQC announced the conclusions after reviewing more than 20,000 inspections it had carried out as well as looking at existing data.

It found that in 78 out of 151 local NHS areas people with dementia who lived in care homes were more likely to be admitted to hospital for an avoidable reason than people without the condition.

Helping older people to get on the internet

Laptop scheme to get older people online

2:49pm Monday 11th March 2013 in News By Journal Reporter

OLDER people are being helped to get online through a scheme to provide low cost, refurbished laptops.

Wiltshire Council and Age UK Salisbury District are working in partnership to refurbish the council’s old laptops and sell them for £50 to those who need them most, with the cost covering the work done on them.