Tag Archives: dementia

Cameron's dementia campaign will be a missed opportunity

November 9, 2012   Alzheimer’s, Carers, dementia

Unless the Dementia Friends initiative incorporates the Special method, a lot of money and good intentions will go to waste

 

Elderly Germans who have Alzheimer’s disease dance at a community centre in Berlin.

Yesterday’s announcement of a national campaign to increase understanding and awareness of Alzheimer’s could have been very good news. There will be £2.4m of government money given to the Alzheimer’s Society (AS), initially to train 6,000 Dementia Friend volunteers. It is hoped that they, in turn, will go back to their communities and create 1 million people in the population with greater awareness – “dementia friends”.

Alas, this is going to be a case of a wonderful opportunity missed. The core problem with Alzheimer’s and most dementia cases is that the person is no longer storing short-term memories. By the time they receive medical care, the vast majority are already in the mid or even late stage of the illness. Frequently they cannot recall what happened from more than 30 seconds ago. However, there is very solid evidence from brain imaging studies that their long-term memory is nearly always fully, or largely, intact.

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The True Story Of A Man Who Lived With The 10-year Terminal Illness Of His Wife

November 8, 2012   Alzheimer’s, dementia

Guest Blog – Max Emmenegge

WILL YOU TELL HER, OR SHALL I?

The True Story Of A Man Who Lived With The 10-year Terminal Illness Of His Wife

An Autobiography

My wife Liz had a massive seizure one evening when we were dressing to go out to dinner with friends in Orlando, Florida. The title of my book derives from the question a doctor posed when a CAT Scan revealed a tumour the size of a tennis ball on her meninges. I was barely able to take it in. He took my arm. “Come on, we’ll tell her together.”

Her tumour was, fortunately, benign. It was removed at the Orlando Regional Medical Center a week later. When she was well enough, I brought her home to England to be near the family. I brought her MRI scans with me. She was 53. The year was 1993.

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PM outlines dementia support plan

November 8, 2012   Alzheimer’s, Carers, dementia

Dementia Friends

David Cameron wants a million members of the public to support dementia sufferers

The Prime Minister is calling on a million members of the public to provide support for dementia sufferers.

David Cameron has set out his ambitious plan to create masses of “dementia friends” who will be able to spot the signs of the condition and offer support for sufferers.

Mr Cameron, who says that tackling dementia is a “personal priority” of his, hopes that one million people will sign up to receive coaching sessions by 2015. The sessions, which will be provided in church halls and workplaces, will help to raise awareness and teach people how to support those with the condition.

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