Going for Gold – Meeting the Dementia Priorities

Achieving the ‘gold standard’ for dementia care services should be more than an aspiration – people with dementia and their carers in Scotland deserve nothing less. The Scottish Government’s priorities for dementia are warmly welcomed but how will these translate to services on the ground? The 2008 Dementia Awareness Week conference addressed these issues.

Delegates were given the opportunity to learn from the best of services but also, importantly, from where the system fails vulnerable individuals with dementia. Carers and people with dementia identified factors that make a service deserve 'gold' and speakers showcased examples of best practice in service provision – from Australia and nearer home.

Alzheimer Scotland launched its latest policy report Meeting our needs? - the level and quality of dementia support services in Scotland.

Presentations given at the 2008 Dementia Awareness Week conference. Held at The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Monday 2 June 2008:

Speakers provided an overview of the Government’s priorities for dementia and the improvements in services Scotland should expect to see over the next 3-5 years and reviewed Alzheimer Scotland’s Dementia Manifesto priorities and what more needs to be done before we reach the ‘gold standard' of dementia care.

Keynote Address: Dementia, a national priority for Scotland (word.doc)
Shona Robison MSP Public Health Minister

Putting Dementia Policy into Practice Locally (ppt)
Alex Mackenzie Director of North Glasgow Community Health and Care Partnership

Lessons learned from Mr C to Mrs T: What have we found out about the care of people with dementia? (ppt)
Donnie Lyons Director, Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland

Dumfries Care at Home: Providing personal care at home – meeting the challenge (ppt)
Ailsa Black Service Manager, Alzheimer Scotland, Dumfries & Galloway Services

The Snakes & Ladders of Dementia Care (ppt)
Jim Jackson Chief Executive, Alzheimer Scotland

Messages from Inspection (ppt)
Alexis Jay Chief Inspector of Social Work

Never too Young. Younger People Living with Dementia: Services and Programs in Australia (ppt) (BIG file, 42mb)
Helen Walker Dementia Education Manager, Canberra, Australia

It's the person that matters: Providing only the highest standards of care for people with dementia (ppt)
Katy Jenks Senior Sister, BUPA Braymount Care Home, Paisley