Tag Archives: alzheimers

Robot seal 'aids dementia patients'

June 24, 2013   Alzheimer’s, Carers, dementia

A robotic seal has helped to improve the quality of life of dementia sufferers, a study has found.

Professor Glenda Cook of Northumbria University with the robotic harp seal

24 June 2013

Researchers have claimed that interacting with a therapeutic robot companion made people with mid to late-stage dementia less anxious and also had a positive influence on their lives.

Academics from the UK, Australia and Germany have been investigating the effect that PARO the robotic harp seal has on dementia patients.

PARO is fitted with artificial intelligence software and tactile sensors that allow it to respond to touch and sound as well as show emotions such as surprise, happiness and anger.

It can also learn its own name and learns to respond to words that its owner uses frequently.

The pilot, on 18 participants in Australia, showed that the robots had a clinically meaningful influence including increased levels of pleasure and also reduced anxiety.

Professor Glenda Cook, Professor of Nursing at Northumbria University, said: “Our study provides important preliminary support for the idea that robots may present a supplement to activities currently in use and could enhance the life of older adults as therapeutic companions and, in particular, for those with moderate or severe cognitive impairment.

Read More

Carers Told To ‘Ask For Help’

June 13, 2013   Carers, dementia, Scotland

Carers need to be cared for too

Today sees the launch of a new DVD to reach out to carers in Glasgow to recognise the value of their contribution.. With an estimated 660,000 unpaid carers in Scotland caring for a family member, friend and loved one the short film highlights that ‘It’s OK to ask for Help.’

The film features Tommy Whitelaw who is well known in carer’s circles across the country for his relentless campaigning for services for people with dementia and their carers.

Tommy cared for his mum Joan and experienced first-hand what it is like to care for someone with dementia. Tommy collected carer stories around Scotland to raise awareness of the impact of dementia on families and the difficult but vital role played by carers.

Read More

The lessons Japan has for the UK on dementia

June 12, 2013   Alzheimer’s, dementia

As the UK population ages, our politicians are looking at the policies of a country where one in four people is over 65

  • The Guardian,

 

Japan introduced a compulsory long-term care insurance system in 2000 to help cope with its ageing population.

Jeremy Hunt’s recent visit to Japan passed almost unnoticed in Britain. Yet the issues he discussed with Shinzo Abe, the Japanese prime minister, and the health minister, Norihisa Tamura, touched on a problem that is likely to dominate social policy in the next decade: dementia care. One in four of the Japanese population is over 65. By 2050, the proportion will be 40%. There are already 4.6 million people with dementia in Japan. Britain, with 10 million people over 65, has 800,000 people living with dementia, at an annual direct cost to the Treasury of more than £10.2bn pounds. By 2050, Britain is expected to have around 1.7 million dementia sufferers.

Not surprisingly, the condition has been a prominent concern to past and current policymakers. In 2009, the Labour government unveiled an ambitious dementia strategy, which aimed to improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their carers through greater understanding within society and improved services. Last year, the coalition government also emphasised the need to improve dementia care, with David Cameron launching his “challenge on dementia”, which identified three major goals: better health and care, fostering “dementia-friendly” communities, and improved research.

Read More