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