Dignity in Dementia Care

To: News/Health/Community Editors

Dignity in Dementia Care?: Alzheimer Scotland responds to Mental Welfare Commission report

Alzheimer Scotland welcomes the Mental Welfare Commission report ‘Older and Wiser’ and the attention it draws to the importance of improving the quality of care that people with dementia experience in continuing hospital care. While the report includes a number of positive findings, such as the attitudes of staff, many wards lack basic, often inexpensive, environmental adaptations which can make a real difference to people with dementia, such as clear signage to help them find their way about, and there are concerns about a range of other issues.

Kate Fearnley, Policy Director at Alzheimer Scotland, said, “We want to see urgent action to tackle the shortcomings the report identifies. Why have so many of the nursing staff not been made aware of current Scottish clinical guidelines for dementia? Staffing levels at mealtimes must be addressed, so that patients get the help they need to eat and drink. And more attention needs to be paid to finding out about individuals’ likes, dislikes and life histories. Despite the well-recognised importance of people with dementia keeping physically and mentally active, alarmingly about half the patients had no activities in their care plans, and some had never been out of the ward.”

Jim Jackson, Chief Executive of Alzheimer Scotland, stated, “The Mental Welfare Commission report reinforces the arguments put forward by Alzheimer Scotland for making dementia a national priority. People with dementia deserve dignity throughout their illness.”

Alzheimer Scotland’s major new report, The Dementia Epidemic - Where Scotland is Now and the Challenge Ahead, reveals that by 2031 there will be approximately 102,000 to 114,000 people with dementia, an increase of 75% from 2007. The economic impact, currently estimated to be between £1.5 and £1.7 billion, is set to rise to £2.6 - £2.9 billion (at today’s prices) by 2031.

Please give our Freephone 24hr Dementia Helpline telephone number: 0808 808 3000 and our web page address: www.alzscot.org at the end of articles.

Contact details:
Kirsty Jardine. PR & Marketing Manager, 0131 243 1453, kjardine@alzscot.org
Jim Jackson, Chief Executive, 0131 243 1453, jjackson@alzscot.org
Kate Fearnley, Policy Director, 0131 243 1453, kfearnley@alzscot.org

About Alzheimer Scotland:
Dementia affects approximately 58,000 - 65,000 people in Scotland. Alzheimer’s disease is the main form of dementia. The second most common is vascular dementia. As yet there is no cure.

Alzheimer Scotland is Scotland’s foremost voluntary organisation working for people with dementia and their carers. It:

• speaks out for the rights and concerns of people with dementia and their carers;
• operates services on over 60 sites throughout Scotland providing practical services such as day, evening and weekend centres, home care and befriending and carers' support services;
• provides the 24 hour national freephone Dementia Helpline (0808 808 3000);
• has a research programme.