New scheme aims to help cope with growing number of dementia diagnoses in East Lancashire (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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New scheme aims to help cope with growing number of dementia diagnoses in East Lancashire
11:00am Saturday 1st September 2012 in News
NEW community schemes are being launched in East Lancashire to cope with the growing number of dementia diagnoses.
In 2010, there were 5,796 people living with the condition in East Lancashire.
So far this year it is 6,041, and next year the figure is expected to hit 6,159.
Nationally there are 800,000 in the UK with dementia, with the number expected to double by 2051.
Julie Hesketh, a dementia support worker for the Altzheimer’s Society, said: “A lot of people think that there’s nothing out there to help, but there is and it’s free.
“There could be thousands more people out there who have the condition who we aren’t reaching.”
Julie has now launched a project called Dementia Friendly Communities, which involves going to shops and training staff on how to cope with customers experiencing memory difficulties.
She said: “I’ll go and provide basic training to the staff, give them all the information about dementia, and I’ll be in contact with them if an when a situation arises.
“We’ll also provide the shops with leaflets they can hand out so they can suggest to people speaking to the support services.
“We don’t want people to feel like they are stuck in their homes and they are being stigmatised.”
Julie also provides a five-week Carers Information Advice Programme in town halls across East Lancashire, with information on finance, benefits and support.
She wants families and patients to know what to ask of a GP, but is worried about a “crisis” over how care is provided is looming.
She said: “More and more people under 65 are being diagnosed, it’s not an aging illness.
“Figures are rising because of bad diets, excessive alcohol consumption, people are living longer, and the fact that the signs are more recognised now.
“The Government are looking at capping care fees, but a crisis is coming over how it’s going to be paid for in the future.”
Dementia cafes are run every Tuesday throughout East Lancashire by the Dementia Forum.
For more information on support available, call Julie on 01282 421233 or email: julie.hesketh@alzheimers.org.uk
BritainfortheBritish says...
1:04pm Sat 1 Sep 12
They have a belief that all patients can be cared for in the community and yet community services are struggling already .
Also the trust currently has no beds available for older people with any type of mental illness at all !!!
Just how bad is this !!!!