The Government is to produce the first ever national dementia strategy in response to one of the great challenges now facing society.
Speaking during a visit to a mental health centre for older people in North Kensington, Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis said:
“The scale of our ambition must now meet the scale of the challenge as demographic realities mean dementia will impact on an increasing number of families in our society. The current system is failing too many dementia sufferers and their carers”.
“I am determined that this disease is brought out of the shadows. We need to minimise the shame and fear associated with dementia so that people and their relatives feel able to seek support at the earliest possible stage in the knowledge they will get expert help and be treated with dignity and respect.”
There are currently around 600,000 people with dementia in England – a figure which is set to double in the next thirty years.
Despite an estimated investment of ?3.3bn per annum, recent reports and feedback tell us that there are three key issues where improvements have to be made. These are:
* Better Awareness – Addressing the stigma of dementia in society and ensuring that individuals and their family members recognise the early signs of dementia so symptoms are not wrongly attributed to “old age” and patients are referred quickly for diagnosis.
Examples of these early signs are:
When you or your family feel that your memory has got worse for recent events;
When your family and friends notice that you are repeating the same phrases and questions over again.
When your family and friends notice that you are not looking after yourself as well as usual.
* Early Diagnosis – ensuring the diagnosis of dementia is made accurately and early by clinicians, so people with dementia and their families can receive appropriate support.
* High quality treatment- improving services so that people with dementia receive high quality treatment and support, which maximises their quality of life and ensures they are treated with dignity and respect.
Ivan Lewis continued:
“Dementia is a unique illness with devastating consequences. We know that as people live longer an increasing number of families will have to cope with the harsh realities of dementia.
“It is of utmost importance that we have the right services in place for people with dementia as well as those who love and care for them. By concentrating on improving awareness, diagnosis and managing the disease we will help transform the lives of those with dementia by improving their quality of life.”
Development of the strategy will be led by Prof. Sube Banjeree, professor of mental health and ageing at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London and clinical director for mental health of older adults in the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, and Jenny Owen, Executive Director of Adults, Health and Community Wellbeing in Essex and Joint Chair of the ADASS Older People’s Committee
They will be working with a stakeholder group, to be led by Neil Hunt, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Society and include Age Concern, Help the Aged, the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Ideas such as an information campaign with tips for detecting the first signs of dementia, specific staff training to improve diagnosis, and guidance for the NHS and social care to manage the care of people with dementia, are all to be considered as the strategy is developed.
Neil Hunt Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, said:
“Today is a pivotal moment for millions of families affected by dementia. For too long dementia has been at the bottom of health and social care pile. This announcement by our new government represents a real step forward in policy towards dementia.
“Dementia is the health and social care challenge of the century. This is an exciting opportunity to make sure the knowledge and expertise we now have about dementia care and treatment makes a difference to the lives of thousands of people throughout England.
“There is a huge task ahead. Currently, 600,000 people have dementia in England yet more than half of these will never receive a formal diagnosis and families are often left to cope alone until they reach crisis point. In less than twenty years over a million people will have dementia, we look forward to working with the government to ensure people now and in the future receive the care and support they deserve.”
By the summer of 2008 Ministers will announce a transformation plan to ensure dementia services are improved in all parts of the country.