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Matt Seex Editor mattseex@stepcomms.com


CARE HOME


ENVIRONMENT Editor Matt Seex


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Mike Gammon


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Steven Dillon Publisher


Geoff King Publishing Dire


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Trevor Moon trevormoon@stepcomms.com


THE CARE HOME ENVIRONMENT is published monthly by Step Communications Ltd, Step House, North Farm Road,


HOME ENVIRONMEN


is published monthly by Step Communications Ltd, Step House, North Farm Road,


Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DR, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1892 779999


Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DR, UK. +44 (0)1892 779999


Email: info@thecarehomeenvironment.com Web: www.thecarehomeenvironment.com


Dementia – misconceptions abound


Welcome to the May issue of Home Environment.


Welcome to the May issue of The Care


home provider Care UK has laid bare many of the misconceptions and fears that people have about dementia. Almost two thirds of the 2,000 people questioned by OnePoll are afraid of developing dementia when they get older. More surprising is the revelation that 11 per cent started worrying about the condition in their 20s. Misconceptions about dementia abound – a fifth of adults wrongly believe that Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are different names for the same thing, while 17 per cent believe that if a member of their family develops dementia, this means that they will, too. While fourteen per cent of those questioned think that people living with dementia cannot lead a meaningful life, over a third admitted that they actually know little about the condition. Even though there are (according


ISSN NO. 2398-3280 The Publisher is unable to take any


responsibility for views e


ISSN NO. 2398-3280 The Publisher is unable to take any


contributors. Editorial views are not necessarily shared by the journal. Readers


responsibility for views expressed by contributors. Editorial views are not


d by


are expressly advised that while the contents of this publication are believed to be


of this publication are belie d to be


accurate, correct and complete, no reliance should be placed upon its contents as being applicable to any particular circumstances.


ate, correct and complete, no reliance should be placed upon its contents as being applicable to any particular circumstances.


This publication is copyright under the Berne ention and the International Cop ention. All rights reserv d, apart from any copying under the UK Cop right Act 1956, part 1, section 7. Multiple copies of the contents of the publication without permission is


This publication is cop right under the Berne Convention and the International Copyright Convention. All rights reserved, apart from any copying under the UK Copyright Act 1956, part 1, section 7. Multiple copies of the contents of the publication without permission is always illegal.


ys illegal.


cessarily shared by the journal. Readers are expressly advised that while the contents


STEP TIONS


to Alzheimer’s Society) an estimated 900,000 people in the UK living with dementia (a number expected to rise to including wages, without adequate funding leading to pressure on stretched local government budgets, resulting in


‘There now exists an opportunity for [the government] to adopt a policy that would mitigate the impact of these National Insurance increases on the people they will affect the most – those who draw on care and support every day to live fulfilling lives. This would avoid a return to what The King’s Fund has identified as a ‘doom loop’ caused by nearly a decade’s worth of rising cost,


COMMUNICA less care available to those who need it as service provision shrinks.’


Liz Jones, policy director at NCF, said:


New research commissioned by care National Insurance Contributions Act having now received Royal Assent, the National Care Forum (NCF) and Methodist Homes (MHA) have published an open letter to the Chancellor Rachel Reeves proposing the idea of a ‘bridging fund’ that would enable adult social care


With the government’s controversial


employers to move towards the proposed fair pay agreement for care workers. The letter suggests that the proposed funding ‘be at least equivalent to the sector’s overall losses resulting from changes to employer’s National Insurance Contributions’ under the Act. According to the letter:


NCF and MHA suggest measure to mitigate NICs increase


1.6 million by 2040), Care UK’s research found that 72 per cent of adults have made no effort to learn about the condition. In response, Care UK has launched a new video guide which aims to debunk the myths surrounding dementia and provide support to families whose loved ones have been diagnosed with the condition. Suzanne Mumford, head of nursing,


care and dementia services at Care UK, said: “There are plenty of misconceptions when it comes to dementia, and what this means for the person living with it and their family. “In reality, dementia is a condition that


can be managed to ensure those who live with it can continue to lead fulfilling, meaningful lives and can be supported to still do the things they love. That’s why we’ve launched our latest video guide, One step at a time. Featuring tips from our experts, but also testimonies of residents’ families, it is designed to help people navigate through the dementia journey, from dealing with the initial diagnosis to learning how to live well with dementia.” While the results of Care UK’s research


“It is not too late for the Chancellor to do something to mitigate the impact of increases to and extensions of the Employers National Insurance Contributions on the millions of people who draw on care and support. Without action, we are concerned that hundreds of thousands of people with learning disabilities, autistic people and older people, as well as their wider communities, will not be able to access the vital services they need to live fulfilling lives as a result of the predicted shrinkage of care and support services resulting from these measures. “We remain solutions focused, and the ‘bridging fund’ proposal we outline offers a solution for the government that would mitigate this impact, as well as provide an interim measure to improve the wages of all of who work in social care – care workers, support workers, nurses and many others – ahead of a fair pay agreement.”


The letter concludes:


might be troubling, they are perhaps not all that surprising. The spectre of dementia – along with the prospect of old age itself – is something most of us push to the back of our minds. It is a scary thing to think about, and most of us would prefer not to do so. Yet it is only a matter of time before dementia affects somebody we love, or indeed us personally. Perhaps, then, we all need to be a little braver and find out more about a condition that is almost certain to come into our lives one day. I hope you enjoy the issue.


‘Without this bridging fund, the sector risks contracting, jeopardising care and support for millions of people, and moving further away from its ability to deliver on the fair pay ambition.’ Sadly, at the time of writing, the


government is yet to take the action suggested. I hope you enjoy the issue.


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