Dance, music and drama boost care home residents' memories

Musical activities have been shown to improve the cognitive abilities and memory recall of people living at 17 care homes run by the Anchor Group.

A series of creative workshops held at Anchor care homes in Surrey, have revealed how the innovative adoption of dance, drama and music in care home activities can soothe and stimulate at the same time, bring back memories from the past and help to engage underused but still active areas of the brain.

The care home workshops, part of a six-month trial, funded by the older people’s charity Beth Johnson Foundation (BJF), reveals a number of benefits for people living with dementia. Staff saw the sessions boost residents’ mental health, self-esteem and self-confidence, after they started getting involved in drama, dance and music.

Based on the trial’s findings, a report ‘Experiences of Being’ was published by Anchor recommending the use of drama, music and dance in care homes to help those living with dementia.

Colin Hann, executive chair of BJF said: "Dementia is an area for more work and creative thinking and this report shows how the arts and drama can make an important positive contribution to those who have dementia...in the longer term let’s also work to find a cure."

For six months, Anchor trialled the integration of drama, music and dance workshops into its dementia care, which was attended by 200 care home residents. The sessions saw positive changes in residents, many of whom experienced greater movement and physical exercise through the encouragement of dance or subtle actions using their hands or feet.

In one session, while music played, a mixture of scarves, hats, over-sized glasses, wooden spoons and maracas were given to residents to try on, prompting conversations among residents and some role play.

The report stated: 'The props acted as stimuli for the residents, with powerful and diverse reactions. The session ended with a ‘goodbye’ song, during which the props were collected and each resident was given a ribbon to wave or use in any way they choose to signify goodbye and thanks.'

One 96-year-old resident with dementia had never joined in with her care home's activities but spent all day in her room, even eating her meals there alone. She attended a weekly one-to-one prop box activity, using boxes of beads, pictures and other small items and engaged in gentle hand movements set to music.

After attending, staff noticed the resident was enjoying the sessions and “now has animated conversations about her life when she was young – memories triggered by the items in the prop box.” The staff said the workshop has improved her confidence and self-esteem and breaks down the monotony of her day.

The One-hour workshop sessions were followed by a feedback and training session for staff at the care homes who gave their own input into how they thought the sessions could be modified.

The success of the sessions has seen participating care homes introduce the workshops to the activities programme.

Anchor and BJF hope the results of the 'Experiences of Being' report will encourage everyone working with older people across the UK to consider the innovative use of arts-based activities in the homes of those living with dementia.

Jane Ashcroft, chief executive of Anchor, a not-for-profit care provider, said: “We’re keen to embrace innovative ways to enhance the lives of our residents and, with such positive results, this project has been a pleasure to be part of. I hope others learn from the report and are encouraged to introduce similar creative activities.”

Actor Linda Marlowe, who played Sylvie Carter a character with dementia in TV soap EastEnders this year, has also welcomed the workshops. To prepare for her acting role, she visited care home residents living with dementia. Ms Marlowe said: “I was there for three days spending time with the residents who had dementia to various degrees. This was invaluable in playing my role in EastEnders. I am now committed to promoting the use of drama and the arts to make a positive difference to help those who are living with dementia”

SOURCE: carehome. co.uk, Angeline Albert

Dementia deaths to rocket by 2040, experts warn in plea for improved care

The number of people who die from dementia is set to almost quadruple in coming years, a new study has found.

Increasing deaths from the condition will contribute to a rocketing number of people who will need end-of-life care, researchers added.

By 2040, it is estimated 219,409 people in England and Wales will die from dementia - a significant rise from 59,199 in 2014.

Experts called for urgent action to address the growing need for end-of-life care services.

The study, published in the journal BMC Medicine, saw experts analyse mortality statistics for England and Wales from 2006 to 2014.

Researchers from the Cicely Saunders Institute at King's College London then calculated the proportion of people who need palliative care, and corresponding rises over the nine-year period.

They estimated that by 2040, the annual number of deaths in England and Wales will rise by 25.4% to 628,659.

As well as predicting soaring numbers of deaths from dementia, researchers also estimated that by 2040, the number of deaths from cancer will increase from 143,638 to 208,636.

They concluded palliative care needs will rise by 42.4% by 2040.

This means 160,000 more people in England and Wales will need such care by 2040.

At present, it is estimated three-quarters of people need some level of palliative care, but researchers believe this will rise to 85% in the coming 23 years.

"By 2040, national data suggests there will be a rise in the prevalence of chronic progressive illnesses, and we believe that many of these will require symptom relief and palliative care," said lead author Dr Simon Noah Etkind from the Cicely Saunders Institute.

"We estimate that at least 85% of deaths in 2040 will require some form of palliative care and we can predict a shift towards dementia as a greater contributor to palliative care need."

Co-author Professor Irene Higginson (pictured) added: "There is an urgent need to act now to transform health, social and palliative care services to meet the projected growth in palliative care need."

Commenting on the study, Simon Jones, from the charity Marie Curie, which provides care and support for people with terminal illnesses, said: "We need to radically rethink how we care for people at the end of their lives, to ensure everyone with a terminal illness gets the range of support they need, when they need it.

"We need to start that process now, before we reach crisis point."

Alzheimer's Society director of campaigns and partnerships Rob Burley said: "Dementia is set to be the 21st century's biggest killer.

"It is the only leading cause of death that we can't cure, prevent or slow down.

"This predicted fourfold increase in dementia deaths is a wake-up call to provide more dementia-appropriate palliative care services in the community."

Dr Matthew Norton, of Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "The figures from this study are very alarming, but we can prevent this becoming the reality if we invest now in pioneering research."

SOURCE: care appointments.co.uk, Ella Pickover

Dementia patients should be fitted with GPS trackers to find them within seconds of going missing, expert claims

Professor June Andrews, OBE, is adamant the chip under their skin could save many families the anxiety and distress if their relative goes missing

Gadgets of this kind are inserted underneath the skin and are used in some countries but not currently in the UK.

Professor Andrews, who has written numerous books on dementia, has since signed over her power of attorney to her daughter for when the 'time comes'.

She said: 'A huge amount of family anxiety is caused when someone goes missing, to the person and the family.

'A huge amount of police money is spent on it and in many ways it’s actually wasted time.

'The devices can also alert you if the person stops moving for a long time. You can have a movement sensor into it. 

'If someone bumps into something or falls over, it alerts you. They are getting more and more sophisticated.' 

Professor Andrews, who now works independently to improve the lives of people with dementia, is in favour of subcutaneous trackers (stock)

There is a growing economy of elderly tracking and tagging devices, from pocket GPS trackers to wearable soles.

The increasingly popular gadgets can be bought online for as little as £40 and require a battery and mobile phone SIM card. 

But critics have previously responded in fury to the tracking device suggestions, calling for the 'human rights' of each person to be 'thoroughly considered'. 

However, Professor Andrews hit back at the claims. She said: 'We know there’s a news story that says, old people are being tagged like criminals.

'The general, sensible response to that is, actually it’s better than being hunted like a dog.'

It is estimated that more than 60 per cent of people living with dementia can at some point start to wander off.

The disease, which affects around 850,000 people in the UK and more than 35 million worldwide, can cause disorientation. 

Dr Hilda Hayo, chief executive at Dementia UK said: 'We believe the use of GPS tracking systems can in some situations be useful to safeguard a vulnerable person, but must only be implemented on a case by case basis. 

'The decision to use GPS technology should be based on the best interests of the person’s safety and ideally having gained their consent. 

'Dementia UK stresses that there are civil liberties and ethical issues to take into account when monitoring an individual’s movements, which must be balanced against the significant harm that may come to them. 

'Their human rights, including their best interests and consent, or that of their carers, should be thoroughly considered.'

ARE TRACKING DEVICES ALREADY USED IN BRITAIN?

Many tracking device schemes are already underway across Britain, including one announced last week by the Metropolitan Police.

It said it was behind vulnerable patients wearing the state-of-the-art technology as a necklace, bracelet or key ring to locate them within seconds.

Sussex Police became the first force to fit patients with GPS tracking devices in 2013, making the move to try and save time and money when they go missing.

While a similar scheme announced by Hampshire County Council last year has proven to be a success.

The number of missing person episodes in this region of the country for people fitted with the trackers has more than halved, figures show.   

In Japan, health officials in one city have gone one step further and allowed people to add barcodes to the thumbnails and toenails of dementia patients.

These record their name, address and who to contact in case they are found walking the streets disorientated by police.  

SOURCE: MailOnline, Stephen Matthews

New tax needed to fund NHS and care, says ex-minister

A new tax is needed to ensure the UK has a properly funded health and social care system, doctor and ex-Conservative health minister Dan Poulter has said.

The Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP told the Observer that difficulties in arranging social care for patients was having a major impact on hospitals.

Raising National Insurance "offers one of the simplest ways forward", he said.

The Department of Health said its plan to introduce a cap on care costs in England in 2020 had not changed.

Mr Poulter stepped down from his Department of Health post last year and now works as an MP and a part-time doctor in the NHS.

He told the Observer: "On the hospital wards I often see people who are medically fit to go home, but who are forced to stay in hospital because of difficulties arranging their social care package, or because of a lack of appropriate housing...

"A long-term plan to ensure a properly funded and sustainable health and social care system is urgently required."

'Legitimate debate'

The government's policy to limit care costs to £72,000 for the over-65s and younger adults with disabilities were delayed from last April after councils, which provide the facilities, wrote to ministers citing "enormous pressures".

But Dr Poulter, who had been charged with steering the plan through Parliament, suggested the flagship policy now has little chance of being implemented because of increasing costs.

He said a "health and care tax - perhaps introduced through raising national insurance" would provide a guaranteed income stream and "allow a legitimate debate about what is an appropriate level of taxation required to ensure a sustainable funding settlement".

A 1p in the pound hike in both employee and employer National Insurance contributions was used by Labour in its 2002 budget to pay for a £40bn rise in NHS spending over five years.

Dr Poulter's comments come after it was revealed plans are being drawn up that could see cuts to NHS services across England to meet £22bn in efficiency savings by 2020-21.

The Department of Health said it had protected the NHS in England by giving it an extra £10bn and any changes would involve reorganising local services to improve patient care.

Addressing Mr Poulter's comments, a DoH spokeswoman said: "This government is committed to ensuring that those in old age can access care that is both affordable and dignified.

"The position on the care cost cap hasn't changed. Last year, a new timetable was set out with the introduction of the cap in 2020 and we are now working with the insurance industry and others to make sure we can introduce these reforms."

But Richard Murray, of the King's Fund think tank, said tackling the "growing crisis" in social care would be a key test of Prime Minister Theresa May's vow to lead a nation that works for everyone, not just the privileged.

He said: "England remains one of the few major advanced countries that has not reformed the way it funds long-term care in response to the needs of an ageing population.

"A frank and open debate is needed on how to fund health and social care on a sustainable basis into the future, recognising that a long-term strategy will exceed the lifetime of a single Parliament."

SOURCE: NHS

Therapy dog assists home care clients in Meriden

MERIDEN — A small plastic bag filled with dog treats was on Aurore Lagace’s kitchen table Tuesday morning and right below the table sat Sonny, a very patient 4-year-old Golden Retriever with his eyes locked on the snacks.

Very gently, Lagace pulled two small treats from the bag to present to Sonny, but before she could even pull them completely from the bag Sonny had already snagged both the treats from Lagace’s hand and ate them.

“Oh my, you got both of them,” said Lagace laughing as she stroked Sonny’s head. “Oh dear, now one more.”

Lagace reached into the bag once again and gave Sonny another treat. This time he waited for Lagace to feed him the snack.

“That’s it, that’s it. Oh my goodness,” she said, still laughing and rubbing Sonny. “Oh, that’s it. No more, no more.”

Sonny is a certified therapy dog registered with Pet Partners Therapy and works alongside his owner, Sharon D’Aquila, the president of Assisted Living Services on Broad Street in Meriden.

Assisted Living Services provides home care to thousands of seniors and those with disabilities throughout the state with personal care assistants, live-in aides, and homemakers.

They were visiting with Lagace, who is one of D’Aquila’s clients. Lagace has been seeing Sonny since he was a puppy nearly four years ago. Lagace looks forward to the visits and said that she “loves Sonny” and he brings her good company.

Sonny started training in a puppy class, then took an obedience class before finally going through therapy training for eight weeks. He is evaluated every two years, D’Aquila said.

Clients of D’Aquila’s can request Sonny to come to their visits. She typically sees about six clients a month with Sonny, not including the people who greet and pet him at the nursing homes D’Aquila goes to.

There are many health benefits with animal therapy, explained D’Aquila. Many clients take walks with Sonny and having him around helps decrease their anxiety depression, or feeling of loneliness. 

The positivity of Sonny’s presence rubs off on her clients, she said.

“It’s a bonus to bring him out with a client,” said D’Aquila. “It lowers their blood pressure.”

Sonny sees patients with dementia, who have suffered a stroke, and others with disabilities.

D’Aquila said one of her clients who had a stroke visits with Sonny and when they are together D’Aquila said “her face lights up” and she starts walking faster to see him. Another client sings to him.

Every time D’Aquila sees a client with Sonny, she leaves a card with a picture of Sonny with them. The card is from Sonny and says “thank you for having me visit today. Looking forward to another soon.”

For Lagace, those cards make her happy and she said she keeps them every time Sonny visits with her.

Tuesday afternoon Lagace was all smiles with D’Aquila as they sat around her kitchen table and enjoyed the dog.

“Come on, honey. Over here,” said Lagace as she called for Sonny who scooted up next to her chair. “OK, lovey. Aw, you’re a good boy.”

SOURCE: Farrah Duffany for Record-Journal

Too many delay seeking dementia diagnosis, charity says

More than half of those seeking a diagnosis for dementia have delayed going to their GP by at least a year, according to a survey carried out by the Alzheimer's Society.

The charity says nearly two-thirds of people fear a diagnosis would mean their life is over.

But it says an early diagnosis can actually help people to live as well as possible.

And it wants everyone to confront head-on the challenges posed by dementia.

In a survey of 2,000 adults, almost half thought they would have to stop driving immediately while one in five feared losing their partner or friends if they were diagnosed with dementia.

Nearly 60% thought they would struggle to join in conversations and almost half worried people would think they were "mad" if faced with a diagnosis.

But the charity said these myths about dementia were stopping people from getting the best possible treatment and also preventing them from planning for the future.

When to see the doctor

There are many possible symptoms of dementia, and anyone experiencing them is encouraged to see a doctor as soon as possible. Common symptoms include:

§  memory loss, especially problems remembering recent events such as messages

§  periods of mental confusion

§  difficulty finding the right words

§  difficulty with numbers or handling money in shops

§  increasing difficulty with tasks and activities that require concentration and planning

§  depression and changes in mood or personality

One in three people surveyed said they didn't go and see their GP because they thought memory problems were just a natural part of the ageing process.

Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, said delays in seeking medical attention were something they wanted to change.

"Too many people are in the dark about dementia - many feel that a dementia diagnosis means someone is immediately incapable of living a normal life, while myths and misunderstandings continue to contribute to the stigma and isolation that many people will feel."

He said he wanted to reassure people that life doesn't end when dementia begins.

"There's no question that it can have a profound and devastating impact on people, their family and friends - but getting a timely diagnosis will enable people with dementia to live as well as possible."

There are around 850,000 people in the UK with a form of dementia - a figure that is predicted to rise to one million in less than 10 years and to two million by 2051.

SOURCE: NHS, BBC News

Rarer causes of dementia

There are many other diseases that can lead to dementia. These are rare: together they account for only about five per cent of all dementia. They tend to be more common among younger people with dementia (under the age of 65).

These rarer causes include alcohol-related brain damage (including Korsakoff's syndrome), corticobasal degeneration, progressive supranuclear palsy, HIV infection, Niemann-Pick disease type C, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).

Some people with Parkinson's disease or Huntington's disease develop dementia as the illness gets worse. People with Down's syndrome are also at a particular risk of developing Alzheimer's disease as they get older.

Mild cognitive impairment

Some people have problems with their memory or thinking but these are not severe enough to interfere with everyday life. In this case, a doctor may diagnose mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Research shows that people with MCI have an increased risk of developing dementia; about 10-15 per cent of this group will develop dementia each year.

However, MCI can also be caused by other conditions such as anxiety, depression, physical illness and side effects of medication. Because of this, some people with MCI do not go on to develop dementia, and a small number of people will even get better.

Who gets dementia?

It is predicted there will be around 850,000 people in the UK with dementia in 2015. It mainly affects people over the age of 65 (one in 14 people in this age group have dementia), and the likelihood of developing dementia increases significantly with age. However, it can affect younger people: there are more than 40,000 people in the UK under 65 with dementia. Dementia can affect men and women.

Scientists are investigating the ways dementia might run in the family. In a very small number of people, certain types of dementia are inherited as a single gene that causes the disease, usually before age 65. A much larger number of people will inherit a combination of genes that increases or decreases their risk of developing dementia in much less direct ways.

How can I tell if I have dementia?

Becoming a bit more forgetful does not necessarily mean that you have dementia. Many people notice that their memory becomes a bit less reliable as they get older - for example they might forget someone's name. Memory loss can also be a sign of stress, depression or certain physical illnesses.

However, anyone who is worried that their memory is getting noticeably worse, or who has other symptoms such as those listed above, should discuss their concerns with the GP.

Diagnosing dementia

It is very important to get a proper assessment of problems with memory or thinking. They may be caused by a treatable condition such as depression or an infection, rather than dementia.

If the cause is dementia, a diagnosis has many benefits. It provides someone with an explanation for their symptoms, gives access to treatment, advice and support, and allows them to prepare for the future and plan ahead. Knowing the type of dementia (eg Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia) may allow appropriate drug treatments to be offered.

Dementia will usually be diagnosed by a specialist doctor such as a psychiatrist (a mental health specialist), a geriatrician (a doctor specialising in the physical health of older people) or a neurologist (someone who concentrates on diseases of the nervous system). Occasionally a GP or specialist nurse will make the diagnosis, depending on their expertise and training.

There is no single test for dementia. A diagnosis is based on a combination of things:

• taking a 'history' - by the doctor talking to the person and someone who knows them well about how their problems developed and how they are now affecting their daily life

• cognitive tests of mental abilities (eg memory, thinking) - simpler tests will be carried out by a nurse or doctor, more specialist tests by a psychologist

• physical examination and tests (eg blood tests) - to exclude other possible causes of the symptoms

• a scan of the brain - if this is needed to make the diagnosis.

A common pattern is for the GP to make an initial assessment and then refer the person to a memory clinic or other specialist service for more detailed assessment. A specialist doctor will have more expertise in dementia and will be able to arrange more detailed tests and brain scans if needed. The diagnosis should be communicated clearly to the person and usually also those closest to them, along with a discussion about the next steps.

Source: Alzheimers Society