New Campaign Encouraging People in the North West to Seek an Early Dementia Diagnosis

We’re welcoming today’s launch of a new Department of Health pilot campaign in the North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber, to help people recognise the signs and symptoms of dementia and urging them to seek advice from their GP.

According to the campaign, there is an estimated 82,661 people living with dementia in the North West, over half of whom are undiagnosed and are consequently missing out on access to treatment and support which could help improve their independence and quality of life.

It can be tough, or even frightening, to admit that you, or someone close to you, might be suffering from dementia. Or you might just not be aware of the signs, but the sooner you discuss it and seek help, the better, since, as the campaign highlights, early diagnosis is key to enabling people to access advice, information and support from social services, voluntary agencies and support groups.

For further information on how to recognise the signs and symptoms of dementia, visit: www.nhs.uk/dementia

It never rains but it pours

by Claire Nurden, Research and Policy officer

Now the dust has begun to settle after the spending review, it seems that the effects will be more far-reaching and complex than many first thought. A broader understanding of the context that specific cuts will made in is essential to get a full grasp of the potential impact, and an idea of how devastating they could be for the most vulnerable older people in our society.

We already know that half of the £2billion earmarked for social care is not ring-fenced and could well be used to plug the gaps in other council funding. But questions are also now being raised about the other half – allocated as part of the health budget. While the NHS has been promised protection, in reality it has seen the smallest budget increase for fifteen years - and that in the face of the challenge of a rapidly ageing population and increasing need. What guarantees are there that the money for social care will be safe when demands for healthcare are rising?

And demand is indeed the issue here. We face a situation where unmet need resulting from cuts in social care and local services such as housing and leisure will drive demand in the health service, and vice versa. All of these services are inter-dependent and must be seen as such when gauging the full consequences of the cuts. Better integration is needed to properly weather the storm, but who will deliver this when cuts to middle-management make change a daunting prospect? It never rains but it pours...

Good to grumble?

Today's story on people failing to act on the early signs of rheumatoid arthritis is sadly unsurprising. Pain experienced when we are young is rarely accepted as something ‘normal’, but there is a worrying tendency for some older people to assume that a degree of pain is an inevitable part of the ageing process. This, however, is simply not the case.

In our experience as an older people’s charity we have come across a “mustn’t grumble” attitude among a number of those we support, forcing us to ask why it is sometimes considered acceptable to suffer? Does this acceptance come as a result of negative attitudes towards ageing in our society, and a feeling that older age automatically means death and decline? And what are the consequences?

Over half of our beneficiaries endure pain on a daily basis, which has an inevitable impact on their quality of life. It is worth considering whether a proportion of the vast numbers of older people currently failing to claim their benefits and entitlements, view their own disability as a natural limitation accompanying older age, and not something which entitles them to any help.

There is a broad expectation that the generation of baby boomers will expect more from their later years. But in order for this to happen they must not only challenge negative attitudes about the type of life they can expect to lead, but the type of life they will be able to lead. We must address our current versions of what is natural and what is not.

Young at heart

After reading the results of the latest study on older people and physical activity published in the British Medical Journal and appearing in the Daily Mail today, we can safely say that the findings are unsurprising. The news that staying active is good for you is nothing new, and it makes sense that building and maintaining strength and mobility helps to prevent falls and guard against ill-health. The issue is that many people don’t realise it’s never too late to get started. Older age doesn’t have to mean decline. At Independent Age we’ve met people in their nineties who push their physical boundaries to the limit. From sky-diving and pole-dancing to Tai Chi and gardening, those we support remind us there’s always a way to stay young at heart.

Some older people may feel that when arthritis and other ailments take hold, exercise is no longer for them. But gentle activity can make the biggest difference to those who believe they’re least able. Its benefits extend beyond the physical – it’s a great excuse to get out and about and meet new people, helping to combat the isolation and loneliness that can be so common amongst older people.