Dementia concerns
THE Assembly Government may be preventing us from using the legislation it created for our patients, but our legal challenge to the Vale council’s “consultation” on the closure of Bryneithin, the only specialist dementia care home in the Vale, continues.

However, our campaign group supports the Vale’s response to WAG’s Dementia Strategy. We believe the strategy is not feasible because the Vale Council must have more financial support from WAG to provide adequate specialist care homes for the predicted 31% increase in dementia cases.  Read more... (229 words, 2 images, estimated 55 secs reading time)

Marie Creeney and her husband, Frank, are struggling with the social care system. Frank, 81, suffered a brain tumour 20 years ago, resulting in severe brain damage. He needs help from when he wakes until he goes to bed.

Mrs Creeney, 72, gave up her job as a senior social worker to care for him at home, but is now in difficulty because she needs kidney dialysis three times a week.  Read more... (357 words, 2 images, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)

Claiming even modest financial aid for looking after someone creates a mountain of paperwork, where each form filled produces another two

If you found a way, by your own efforts, to save this country £87 billion a year, wouldn’t you expect just a little thank-you note from the Government in return? A modest bunch of flowers, maybe? Well, if you’re a carer, prepare for a slap in the face instead.  Read more... (509 words, 2 images, estimated 2:02 mins reading time)

Reminiscing about the war and school lessons from earlier days can improve the memories of elderly people in care homes, psychologists have found.

A study of 70- to 90-year-olds living in care homes in Somerset and Cornwall discovered that the sharing of stories from the past increased memory scores for the residents by 12%.

But the memory enhancing effect was seen only in people talking in small groups and sharing memories; it was not evident when elderly people reminisced speaking to just one carer.  Read more... (313 words, 2 images, estimated 1:15 mins reading time)

How Has a Support Group Helped You Cope With Being an Alzheimer’s Caregiver?

ALICE: After my husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease two and a half years previous, I decided after trying to do everything on my own thinking I could take care of every situation, I decided I couldn’t and I needed to go for help. So I decided to go to a support group, where the people know this whole situation that I’m going through and they could help me. And I get a lot of input and a lot of feedback and a lot of help with certain situations that come up that I have no clue [how] to really deal with. So, I found it extremely helpful. And I wouldn’t miss it; I hate to miss a night because it is so important to me. It’s been a big help.  Read more... (488 words, 2 images, estimated 1:57 mins reading time)

Four Alzheimer’s Caregivers Discuss Their Decision to Join a Support Group

This is part one of the transcript from a special roundtable discussion featuring Alzheimer’s caregivers. In this section, the participants — Alice, Maureen, Phyllis, and Joe — talk about why they sought out a support group in their community.

How Has a Support Group Helped You Cope With Being an Alzheimer’s Caregiver?  Read more... (607 words, 2 images, estimated 2:26 mins reading time)

By Keren Smedley

When my elderly mother was diagnosed with vascular dementia nine years ago at the age of 81, my sister and I naturally assumed that we shared a common goal – to look after her and manage her care in the same way. But what emerged in the weeks and months that followed her diagnosis was a far cry from sisterly love and affection.  Read more... (896 words, 2 images, estimated 3:35 mins reading time)