Mental Health and Dementia

Living with Dementia

Dementia is the umbrella term for symptoms from a range of diseases and conditions, including loss of memory, mood changes, problems with communications, language difficulties, difficulty with concentrating and everyday activities. There are many different types of dementia including vascular dementia, Alzheimer disease, and dementia with lewy bodies.

For sources of support, advice and assistance, visit the Wellbeing and Information Signposting Herefordshire (WISH) online directory of services.

For more information on dementia, visit the national Alzheimer’s Society information.

Working in partnership

In Herefordshire, there are a range of organisations helping people with dementia and their carers. The organisations have come together to develop a dementia strategy and pathway.

For the latest update from the Dementia Partnership, view the action plan.

Herefordshire CCG

We are working to improve the quality of care for people with dementia and their carers, both pre and post diagnosis. The CCG are members of the Dementia Action Alliance and of local Dementia Partnership. For more information on our work, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dementia Care Pathway

An interagency pathway for pre and post diagnosis dementia care has been created. (insert pathway)

Dementia and Care Homes

Most of the 400,000 older people living in care homes have dementia in the UK. We want to support Care Homes to help people living with dementia to maintain independence for as long as possible and ensure that end of life care is the best it can be. The resources below have been selected to aid Care Homes interested in improving their quality in Dementia Care. 

Interesting Reading

An Alzheimer's Society article researching activities for Older People - http://www.alzheimers.org.uk - research journal

CQC Review of dementia care services (2014) - http://www.cqc.org.uk/content/review-dementia-care-services-shows-too-much-variation

Joseph Rowntree Foundation programme of projects - http://www.jrf.org.uk/topic/dementia-without-walls

Quality

NICE Dementia Quality Standard (2010) - https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs1

NICE Mental wellbeing of older people in care homes (2013) - http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/QS50

NICE Supporting people to live well with dementia (2013) - http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/QS30

Nursing

Department of Health Nursing Vision and Strategy - Making a Difference in Dementia Nursing Vision and Strategy

Resources

Short video on environmental changes in care homes that can improve experience of people with dementia - http://www.scie.org.uk/socialcaretv

Care fit for VIPs is a brilliant resource that enables services to improve their services through the excellent self-assessments and handy tools - http://www.carefitforvips.co.uk/#vips

Dementia Pledge

The National Dementia Action Alliance has over 600 organisations (including HCCG) as members. Be part of this call to action - http://www.dementiaaction.org.uk/nationaldementiadeclaration

There is a guide for care homes - DAA Action Plan guidance for care homes