Advice Centre

Services to Support People with Dementia

The treatment of people with dementia is possibly the biggest challenge facing social care professionals. The Department of Health has recently published the National Dementia Strategy for England, an ambitious five year plan for transforming dementia services.

Implemented properly, it presents an opportunity to transform the lives of millions of people with dementia and their carers. There are about 700,000 people in the UK with dementia.

One of the key measures will be the implementation of local memory services (also called 'memory clinics') in each town. These will be a single point of referral for all people with a possible diagnosis of dementia ? almost like a 'one stop shop' for the complex health and care needs people develop as a symptom of their condition. Adult and Community Services is working towards this implementation and has a number of projects under way for the county.

Another strategy is the Government's plan to appoint a senior clinician in every care home and hospital who will be responsible for making sure people with dementia receive good quality care.

Usually, the initial point of contact to access care services is either your GP (for health care solutions) or your local Adult and Community Services office (for most other services). Your GP, as well as discussing your concerns, will be able to carry out a series of tests which will establish the nature of your condition and advise whether treatment is possible.

Some forms of dementia are not permanent and can be caused by a range of emotional, physiological and physical ailments, which bring on dementia-like symptoms. It is important that any diagnosis eliminates the possibility of a reversible dementia before a medical prognosis is made. Following a diagnosis of dementia, your GP may refer you to a specialist like a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry, a Community Psychiatric Nurse or an occupational therapist with a special interest in dementia care.

Support in the community

As it can be best for the person with dementia to stay in their own home for as long as possible, a range of community care services is available to facilitate this. Adult and Community Services, for example, can provide access to: home care (see What Care is Available?); meals in the home; sitting services (which provide a break for any carer); advice on equipment and adaptations; day care centres and respite care.

These services can be provided directly by registered providers to those who do not require Adult and Community Services financial help, however they will still be willing to offer an assessment of need. You may have a choice of which agency you receive your care from whether or not Adult and Community Services assist with the funding of your service.

Residential dementia care

If the time comes when remaining at home is no longer viable, the benefits of residential care need considering. Questions to ask of any home registered for someone with dementia would include: who is the senior clinician who can act as a single point of contact for people to approach for information and advice? What training programmes do staff participate in? Does the home offer a person-centred approach to their care planning? Is the home designed with the needs of its clients in mind, especially safety and accessibility? Is there plenty of natural light? Is moving around helped by easily-understood signage? How is technology employed to help alleviate falls and help orientation?

Differentiating one home from another can be difficult but the quality and quantity of staff training is especially important, along with the turnover of staff as continuity of relationships in this type of home is critical.

The use of medication is a highly emotive subject and any psychotropic medication must be very carefully prescribed. A fine balance exists between 'acting in the best interests of the individual' by prescribing medicine and the benefits of 'normalisation' where time and energy is spent maintaining familiar, comfortable surroundings which help reduce stress and possibly avoid the need for certain medication.