Dementia care champions begin work

Apr 10 2012

The first 100 so-called dementia champions have started work across Scotland to improve standards of care for people with the illness.

Recruited from frontline healthcare staff in hospitals, they have been trained by the University of the West of Scotland and Alzheimer Scotland.

The Scottish Government had previously set out plans to recruit and train 300 champions by 2013 as part of the National Dementia Strategy. A dementia champion will raise awareness of the strategy and encourage better standards of care.

Alzheimer Scotland nurses who specialise in dementia care are also being appointed in every health board in Scotland.

Meanwhile, Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has committed to introduce a national post-diagnostic support target for 2013 to ensure people receive the help they need after they are diagnosed with the disease.

The Scottish Government said the guarantee is the first of its kind in the world and will ensure all people newly diagnosed with dementia receive at least a year of "person-centred" support, provided by a healthcare worker.

Ms Sturgeon said: "Providing the very best care for every older person on every occasion, in care homes and in hospitals, continues to be a personal priority for me.

"It is estimated that up to 82,000 people in Scotland have dementia and we expect that number to double over the next 25 years. The NHS and local authorities have to be well equipped to understand the care which people with dementia and their families are entitled to, in order to ensure that their dignity, independence and wishes are met."

Henry Simmons, chief executive of Alzheimer Scotland, said: "Scotland has had tremendous success in facing one of the key challenges of dementia: encouraging people to come forward and making sure that they receive a prompt diagnosis.

"Recent statistics show that we are leading the way in this regard compared to our counterparts in England and Wales. The new national commitment to a guarantee of one year's post-diagnostic support for everyone receiving a diagnosis of dementia, as well as their partners and families, is a perfect way to build on this."