Tag Archives: carers
”I have dementia, but I still have a life to live”
”I have dementia, but I still have a life to live”
15 November 2012
How to respond to the growing challenge of dementia with patchy levels of diagnosis, care and support were among the issues discussed at Public Service Events’ Dementia, a National Crisis conference in Manchester. Caroline Pennington reports
October saw the new Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, promise that NHS dementia care in England would be the best in the world by 2015. A week prior to this bold affirmation the mood on the challenge of dementia at the Manchester conference centre was one of hesitant optimism gritted with realism.
Andrew Chidgey, director of external affairs at the Alzheimer’s Society, reminded delegates of the pervasive nature of the illness. “It is the personal experience of people living with dementia, their carers and families, which people are finding very difficult,” he said. “People are being diagnosed late, or not at all. People often are not getting the care and support – at the right time – that they need.”
Lonely elderly ‘don’t want to impose’ on busy neighbours, study finds
ALMOST a million older people in Britain do not know even their closest neighbours because they do not want to get in the way, a study of attitudes to loneliness shows.
By John Bingham, Social Affairs Editor
7:00AM GMT 15 Nov 2012
The most common reasons given by elderly people for not getting to know those living close to them was that younger neighbours “always seem to be so busy” or that they did not wish to be a burden.
Overall about 3.5 million people over 65 get no help, support or companionship from those living nearest to them, research carried out for the charity Age UK found.
The findings were published as the charity launched of a campaign to promote neighbourliness between generations ahead of the winter.
It wants to see the “Great British spirit” demonstrated during the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee celebrations translated into practical help for older people this winter.
Home security for the elderly and Carers
Guest Blog Jason Tucker
Home security Tips
Elderly people can often feel vulnerable to crime and are sometimes unable to ensure they are adequately protected from criminal activity without help and support. By following the advice available and taking advantage of organisations offering practical help, elderly people can ensure their home is as secure as possible and that they feel safe in their own homes.
It goes without saying that all doors and outside windows should remain locked if you’re going out, even if only for a few minutes. Various local and national organisations offer specialised help in fitting locks and chains which helps increase security and stops people gaining access to the building. In addition to crime prevention checks, some fire services offer smoke alarm checks so you can ensure your smoke alarm is fitted correctly and in working order. Again, many organisations will help fit smoke and carbon monoxide alarms if you require them.
