Announcing a new regular feature:
‘Focus on Diagnosis'
Beginning with Dementia, our Focus on Diagnosis section will be based around the following structure
- An introduction to the topic by a health professional working in the relevant field
- Articles: contributed by sufferers, carers and newly-diagnosed
- The Basic Facts: signs/symptoms, prognosis, treatments, lifestyle effects etc.
- Where to go to find help and more in-depth information
- Top Ten hints and tips for living with the problem, aspects of daily living
- Quotes/links from MHNE members
- Member Spotlights
- Support from Celebrities
- Podcast audio interviews
- YouTube links to diagnosis related clips
Please contact us with any ideas for future diagnosis spotlights or the type of content you would like to see included in these features. Any experiences you or your members would like to share or if you or they would like to contribute maybe with an interview or podcast please contact MHNE.
DemTalk - a free online communication toolkit for people with dementia and their family and carers
11/01/2013 11:32:55
A new online free communication toolkit has been launched to support effective communication with and for people living with dementia. DemTalkoffers free advice and shares ideas about how everyone can make communication easier and better. Different versions of the toolkit are tailored for different people. Simply choose the tab that sounds most like you and take a look. The team who put this together are very keen for feedback and there is a feedback section to the website where you can offer your views.
The website is: http://www.demtalk.org.uk/
New review says Vitamin E should not be used to treat dementia
30/11/2012 16:47:08
The Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group have published a review which states that Vitamin E should not be used to treat Dementia. Contrary to many of the studies published in the 1990s which seemed to show that high doses of Vitamin E could prevent major illnesses and delay cognitive decline -potentially preventing dementia - the review has claimed that there is no or limited benefit for the use of vitamin E to prevent or treat Alzheimer’s dementia and mild cognitive impairment. 3 studies were undertaken where Vitamin E and a placebo were given to groups of individuals, 2 with Alzheimer’s dementia and 1 with mild cognitive impairments. Cochrane has concluded that: 'No convincing evidence that vitamin E is of benefit in the treatment of Alzheimer’s dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Future trials assessing vitamin E treatment in Alzheimer’s dementia should not be restricted to alpha-tocopherol.'
World Mental Health Day WFMH Publication
04/10/2012 15:51:04
World Mental Health Day 2012 (October 10th) is fast approaching with this year's theme being 'Depression - A Global Crisis'. Depression is significantly affects people in all communities across the world. Today, depression is estimated to affect 350 million people. The World Mental Health Survey conducted in 17 countries found that on average about 1 in 20 people reported having an episode of depression in the previous year. Depressive disorders often start at a young age; they reduce people’s functioning and often are recurring. For these reasons, depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide in terms of total years lost due to disability.
For this year's World Mental Health Day, The World Federation for Mental Health has created a publication that looks at: depression and the danger it can cause to others; the causes of depression due to the economic crisis and the impact depression has on the economy. The publication also features information on World Mental Health Day and its history, including a call to action for this year. This serves as an excellent guide to anyone interested in the event and depression.
Dementia Workforce Development Fund
01/08/2012 15:26:51
The Department of Health has recently commissioned Skills for Care to support the delivery of a national learning and development programme for the adult social care workforce supporting people with dementia. As a result, Skills for Care announced yesterday that they will make up to £2.4m available to employers through the Workforce Development Fund to support the completion of relevant accredited qualifications by those members of the workforce who support people with dementia. All applications for funding must be recieved by 14 August 2012.
For additional information and to apply visit:
http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/news/latest_news/WDDF.aspx
NICE Guidlines on Dementia
26/07/2012 15:09:07
This booklet is about the support and treatment of people with dementia in the NHS and social care services in England and Wales. It explains a guideline from NICE (the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) and SCIE (the Social Care Institute for Excellence). It is written for people with dementia and their carers, but it may also be useful for anyone with an interest in the condition.
Alzheimer’s Society training programme in care homes aims to reduce antipsychotic prescriptions
19/06/2012 10:42:00
An Alzheimer’s Society training programme, supported by funding from the Department of Health and the HC-One care home group, is being rolled out to 150 care homes across the UK. An initial trial of the Focused Intervention Training and Support (FITS) programme found it reduced the use of antipsychotics in care homes by 50%. Paul Burstow, Care Services Minister, said: ‘Far too many people with dementia are robbed of part of their lives because they are needlessly given antipsychotics. In order to reduce this we need to make sure staff working with people with dementia understand the condition so they are able to treat the person, not just address the symptoms. That’s why we’ve put £100,000 towards this vital project. ‘The Prime Minister’s Dementia Challenge has set out the coalition’s plans to make the UK a world leader in dementia care. Projects such as FITS will be vital to achieving that.’
Find out more about the FITS programme on the Alzheimer’s Society website.
Mortality risk of antipsychotic treatment in people with dementia
18/06/2012 10:21:14
There may be differences in mortality risk between individual antipsychotic agents used to treat people with dementia. Patients should be monitored for adverse events in the acute treatment period, and periodic attempts to discontinue medication should be made.
Click HERE to read more
Alzheimer’s jab: New vaccine could cure 50% of cases
12/06/2012 12:24:53
The jab could delay the onset of what is the most common form of dementia by five years and be the first step to a cure A vaccine which could cut the number of Alzheimer’s cases in half has passed its first human trials. The jab could delay the onset of what is the most common form of dementia by five years and be the first step to a cure.
Scientists in Sweden tested the vaccine called CAD106 on patients aged 50 to 80 over a three-year period. In three out of four cases it increased the levels of antibodies in their blood, suggesting the vaccine had boosted their immune system. And those taking part had no serious side-effects.
Authors of the study in the journal Lancet Neurology called it a “promising option in the treatment of people suffering from mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease”.
Mike Swain Daily Mirror click HERE to read more
PM meets with dementia friendly communities champion group
25/05/2012 10:49:18
Prime Minister David Cameron has met with the dementia friendly communities champion group in London. The group is one of three champion groups set up as part of the dementia challenge to explore how to deliver its key aims of creating dementia friendly communities, improving dementia research and improving health and care.
The meeting was co-chaired by Alzheimer’s Society ambassador Angela Rippon and Jeremy Hughes, Alzheimer’s Society Chief Executive. Members of the group include industry leaders, representatives from towns and cities, and people with dementia and their carers.
Click HERE for full article
Admiral Nurses
24/05/2012 12:21:16
Admiral Nurses are specialist mental health nurses specialising in dementia. Admiral Nurseswork with family carers and people with dementia, in the community and other settings. Working collaboratively with other professionals, Admiral Nursesseek to improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their carers. They use a range of interventions that help people live positively with the condition and develop skills to improve communication and maintain relationships. Established as a result of the experiences of family carers, Admiral Nurses are named after Joseph Levy who had vascular dementia and was known as Admiral Joe because of his keen interest in sailing.
Click HERE to find out more