‘Dementia is something that affects a great many families’

Support is growing for our campaign to make Wells a Dementia Friendly City.

The police, care professionals and the Bishop of Bath and Wells have all come on board.

“I’m pleased to be the patron of the City of Wells Dementia project and commend the people and businesses locally for embracing this worthy cause,” said Bishop Peter Hancock.

“Dementia is something that affects a great many families and it is something my wife Jane and I have experienced in our own family life.

“The more we can all understand then the better we will all be able to support those who suffer from dementia and their families.”

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War declared on dementia in major drive to find a cure

A major campaign is being launched today demanding more investment in research into dementia.

Some 850,000 people in the UK live with the illness, including around 70,000 in Yorkshire.

But the condition is expected to take a far greater toll in years to come as the population ages, putting an increasing burden both on carers and the NHS.

In a survey today, the charity Alzheimer’s Research UK found nearly half of over-55s believed dementia was the biggest medical challenge facing the UK.

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What can you do to prevent dementia?

It’s a condition that could strike any one of us, and there is still no cure. But evidence suggests that changing your lifestyle can help to reduce your risk

The longer we live, the more likely we are to develop dementia. Of all the myriad conditions that accompany old age, it is the one that tends to terrify us most. One in six people over 80 have the condition, with impaired cognitive function (usually memory loss) and at least one other significant problem with language, spatial awareness or function. Treatments exist, but they often have little or no effect and, despite reports last week that US researchers have found a possible cause, there is still no cure.

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MPs and peers call for new national dementia strategy

All Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia says new plan should improve post-diagnosis support.

Good dementia support must be available in every area of the country, a report by a group of MPs and peers has said.

In a report published today, the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Dementia recommended a series of areas that could be addressed by a new dementia strategy.

It said post-diagnosis support must be a priority but that “this sense of urgency has yet to filter down to clinical commissioning groups and local authority level, and we want to see this happen as soon as possible”.

The group said there had been improvements in the care of people with dementia since the National Dementia Strategy for England was published in 2010 but it was unacceptable that it was still so piecemeal.

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Local Nursing Home to benefit from specialist facilities

A well-known nursing home in Worcester is expanding its dementia care support following the approval of plans for seven new specialist care bedrooms.

Stanfield Nursing Home in Rushwick provides nursing care for the elderly, as well as specialist dementia support.

A sod cutting took place this week to mark the start of the project, which will incorporate a new 260sqm extension that includes seven ‘dementia-friendly’ bedrooms - complete with en-suite bathrooms, as well as the provision of a community break-out space for residents. The design also includes a dementia-friendly garden, which incorporates raised beds and planting to stimulate the senses.

Sustainability is also high on the list of priorities for the nursing home. Worcester-based integrated building design firm, One Creative Environments Ltd (One), has created a low energy design to increase efficiency and help reduce operating costs, while local building contractor, Speller Metcalfe, will use its expertise to deliver the building to the highest sustainability standards. 

Externally, a feature oak and glazed façade will not only complement the Georgian style of the main house but will also create a light and airy activity space.

Bill Cave, Small Works Director at Speller Metcalfe said: “This is a fantastic project that will not only provide additional space for the nursing home, but more specialist care for residents with additional needs. 

As members of the local community we are proud to be part of such a project that will have a positive and lasting impact for both staff and residents.”

Craig Walding, Project Design Manager at One, added; “The scheme we’ve designed offers a flexible solution to the needs of the home and its residents, while its simplicity complements the existing building. We’re very excited to see the project start on site and the benefits it will offer to the client going forward.”

Richard White, owner of Stanfield Nursing Home, said; “This is an exciting step for the nursing home and it’s great to see our plans coming to fruition. The facility is part of our commitment to continuous improvement and our resident-focused care provision.”

Speller Metcalfe