Dorset LINk News
Dementia Services in Dorset
In 2007 a report entitled “Dementia UK” by the Alzheimer’s Society predicted that by 2025 one million people in the UK will have dementia. Dorset has been described as sitting on a “demographic time bomb”. It’s estimated that the number of people in the county over the age of 65 with dementia will increase from 7796 this year to 11734 by 2025. The LINk is concerned about the challenges that this forecast presents and how those who plan and deliver services to people living with dementia, their families and carers, are going to respond to it. That is why it joined with the Health Scrutiny Committee of Dorset County Council to carry out a Dementia Services Review. We talked to people living with dementia, their families and carers and, as a result a number of recommendations have been made to Dorset County Council and NHS Dorset.
Some of the recommendations are –
- people should be at the centre of any service and any discussion about them - “nothing about me without me”
- give people information from the start and at every stage on their journey
- give people nutritional advice
- increase the use of “telecare”
- create Dementia Champions in every NHS Trust, social care and GP practices
- more public information campaigns
- all carers should be registered with a GP
- ensure there are clear safeguarding processes
- develop a Dementia Care Pathway
- better joint commissioning of services
- better training and awareness for staff working with people who are living with dementia
All document were taken from the Dorset County Council website
If you would like to tell us something about Dementia or Dementia Services please get in touch. Call us on 0300 111 0102 or email: contact@makesachange.org.uk