Tag Archives: alzheimers
Primary care holds the key to raising quality of dementia patients' lives
New campaign launches to tackle dementia stigma and drive concerned people to consult their GP
In recent years dementia has fallen into the healthcare spotlight and will remain there for some time as our ageing population continues to grow and, as a result, the number of people with dementia rises.
This increase in the number of people with dementia is also due to the ability to better diagnose the disorder – although England’s diagnosis rate remains quite low at 42%, on average.
Without a diagnosis as a starting point, people are denied access to support, help and potential treatments that can help them live well with dementia.
Timely diagnosis requires a committed focus, and so a new Department of Health awareness campaign, supported by the Alzheimer’s Society, starts this month.
‘Conspiracy of silence’ over dementia in the doctor’s surgery
People who suspect they might have the beginnings of dementia are waiting seven-and-a-half months before facing up to their problems, a survey of doctors indicates.
By Stephen Adams, Medical Correspondent
12:01AM BST 20 Sep 2012
There is a “conspiracy of silence” between patient and doctor over the disease, with both sides reluctant to raise the the issue, say specialists
The survey of 200 British doctors, sponsored by drugs firm Eli Lilly, found only one in four raised the matter with patients they suspected of having the early signs of dementia.
Dementia care services need ‘radical overhaul’ in Scotland
ALZHEIMER Scotland wants to see a co-ordinator appointed to oversee the health and care of dementia patients.
CARE services for people with dementia need a radical overhaul, Alzheimer Scotland has said.
Many of Scotland’s estimated 84,000 sufferers do not receive the coordinated health and social support that is vital to help them live in the community, the charity said.
Carers, partners and families of sufferers are also lacking essential support as a result of the current “fragmented” care system.
Alzheimer Scotland wants to see a co-ordinator appointed to oversee the treatment and care of dementia patients.
