Inside Ageing’s Post

People who receive care deserve to live fulfilling, safe and healthy lives and we're passionate about supporting the sector to enable this to happen. As part of the Longitude Prize on Dementia, we're working with Anthropos and the Dementia Services Development Centre to improve the quality of life of people living with dementia and support health and social care professionals to provide tailored and person-centred care. Up to 3 in 10 people living with dementia experience sundowning, which is characterised by behavioural changes towards the end of the day. People can experience agitation, disorientation, hallucinations and an increased risk of falls, which can all affect their quality of life. Our project involves home-based technology, which is designed to learn and understand a person’s daily routines and behaviour patterns to identify early signs and triggers of sundowning. We believe this will: 🔹 help ensure people living with dementia can be supported earlier 🔹 provide crucial insights into behaviours, which can be used to inform care 🔹 enable individuals with dementia to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible 🔹 increase our knowledge of sundowning and dementia symptoms and changes. Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/ekZE8CSi #Dementia #DementiaCare #SocialCare #LongitudePrizeOnDementia #DementiaResearch

New Study Shows High Prevalence of Dementia in Adult Day Service Centers Did you know that nearly 1 in 4 participants in adult day service centers (ADSCs) have dementia? A new report by the US National Health Statistics Report reveals a growing trend of ADSCs serving individuals with dementia, with specialized centers seeing even higher numbers. Key findings: - 42.2% of participants in specialized dementia care ADSCs have dementia, compared to 22.7% in nonspecialized centers. - The Midwest and West regions have the highest prevalence of dementia in ADSCs, with nearly 50% in specialized centers. - Non-chain, nonprofit ADSCs serve a higher proportion of individuals with dementia, regardless of specialization. - ADSCs play a crucial role in supporting both individuals with dementia and their caregivers by offering respite, social engagement, and specialized care. This study highlights the critical role of ADSCs in the long-term care system and the growing need for dementia-specific services. What are your thoughts on this study? Share your comments below! #dementia #adultservices #longtermcare #caregivers #healthcare URL: https://zurl.co/GZWd

Launched today, 6 September 2024 at the International Dementia Conference, Sydney, Australia, our 'Dementia in the Commonwealth' report. Believed to be the first report on dementia focussing on Commonwealth countries, this pivotal publication, delves into the current state of dementia care and support; it highlights disparities and challenges, best practices, and the urgent need for action to improve the lives of those affected by dementia. Key findings include: - 59 per cent (33) of Commonwealth nations do not yet have a National Dementia Plan (NDP) or strategy in place. - Only 11 per cent (6) of Commonwealth nations have a NDP in place. - 19 per cent (10) of Commonwealth nations are in the process of developing a NDP. - Shared challenges across the Commonwealth include the need to deal with the inequities in access to support, the workforce shortage and a requirement for a funding strategy. Communities and civil society are mobilising to create greater awareness and dementia Read more and download the report 👇 👇 👇 https://lnkd.in/eB2iTCzF #DementiaInTheCommonwealth #Commonwealth #Dementia #IDC2024

My country, Taiwan, has always been known for her human warmth and kindness (人情味). Community care for our elders is deeply rooted in our culture. Despite limited financial resources and an average income tax rate of 11-15%—much lower than in many EU countries—neighborhoods across Taiwan have taken the initiative to care for the elderly, including those living with dementia. Since entering an aging society in 1993, Taiwan is now on track to become a ‘super-aged society’ by 2025, where more than 20% of our population will be over 65. While this presents challenges—particularly with a rapidly growing dementia population—it also offers us a unique opportunity to strengthen and evolve our community-driven care system. Our cultural foundation of kindness and connection has always been our strength. The question now is: How can we further harness these values to meet the growing needs of our elders? How can Taiwan continue to be a global example of community care in a rapidly aging world? #CommunityCare #AgingSociety #DementiaCare #Taiwan #HumanKindness #GlobalExample

#Dementia cases are rapidly increasing, but community fear and #stigma about the condition remain and it’s preventing people from seeking timely medical help and treatment. Researchers at NeuRA in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) have released “Understanding and reducing dementia stigma in Australia: Who holds it and how to mitigate it?” in Alzheimer's Disease International’s World #Alzheimer’s Report. Lead researcher, Professor Kaarin Anstey, from NeuRA and UNSW Ageing Futures Institute said that findings in the report were based on two national surveys, conducted in 2017 and 2023 on Australians aged 18+ that measures stigma towards dementia in the community and provides a benchmark for measuring this over time. “While we were able to see there is an increased awareness of dementia in the community, the surveys also showed that stigma still prevails,” Prof Anstey said. “The national surveys provided a benchmark for exploring Australian stigma towards dementia, but also showed that cultural and ethnic group engagement is needed to better understand how cultural factors influence the experience of dementia and perceptions of symptoms.” Prof Anstey said exposure and education could reduce stigma, and this was vital as negative attitudes and stigma had wide-ranging impacts, including preventing people accessing treatment. “Fear and negative perceptions of dementia may lead to denial of changes in memory and behaviour, and prevent people from seeking timely medical help and treatment,” she said. “Understanding negative and stigmatising attitudes to dementia influence service use and can assist in developing strategies to educate people and health professionals to address the stigma. “New treatments are being developed for dementia and we need to further address stigma and fear to ensure they are not barriers to people accessing them.” You can read the report here: https://lnkd.in/dEK5Rz8m #DementiaResearch #MedicalResearch #DementiaStigma

“By 2050, Taiwan is projected to have the third-oldest population on the planet, with 35 percent of its citizens being 65 or older.” As Taiwan becomes a super-aged society, it is crucial to develop inclusive community support and services to ensure older adults can age in place while still having access to necessary resources. Dementia villages, designed as safe and supportive communities for individuals with dementia, exemplify this approach. By creating environments that feel familiar and inclusive, dementia villages allow residents to maintain a sense of independence and dignity while receiving the care they need—offering a promising model for Taiwan’s aging population. So heartwarming as a Taiwanese-Canadian to see how people come together to support each other in the village!

The critical role of care partners in the outcome for the person with dementia, and the impacts of dementia care partnering, underscore the need to prioritize the diverse needs of family care partners. Ignoring them and their needs would have dire consequences, as documented in numerous studies nationally and globally. #medicolegal #healthcare #mentalhealth #dementiaawareness #mlsm

There are about 55 million people living with some form of dementia across the world, and that number is projected to rise three-fold by 25. Dr. Chris Ball talks about new data that revealed a decline in the rate of new cases of dementia between 22 and 21. However from the age of 21, the rate started to rise again. Declining incidence rates are therefore no cause for complacency, and insurers can help by finding suitable products for the future care of patients. https://lnkd.in/eSA4FuVy #dementia #mentalhealth #healthinsurance

Learn about meaningful communication in dementia care with our latest blog post, "Just Give Me a Minute." Discover proven strategies taught to us by people living with dementia through their stories shared via To Whom I May Concern. Dive in now: https://lnkd.in/ebtVvJ-q 🗨️💫 #DementiaCare #CommunicationIsKey

Learn about meaningful communication in dementia care with our latest blog post, "Just Give Me a Minute." Discover proven strategies taught to us by people living with dementia through their stories shared via To Whom I May Concern. Dive in now: https://lnkd.in/e-MdsWhC 🗨️💫 #DementiaCare #CommunicationIsKey