An exploration of the UK carer world

Economic and Social Research Council                  Dementia Home page

Preamble

a

There is an abundance of quotations from the ESRC page - Tackling the challenges of dementia.  You now read an entirely different way of using the page.

b

One reason is this site's aim of converting Internet hawks to hedgehogs.  Linked to that is the presentation of a page which keeps the reader to a linear style of absorbing the info.  Rather than tempting readers to find out about Internet hawks and hedgehogs or to read the page  - Tackling the challenges of dementia, they are channeled into taking each step as it comes.

c

Ideally, readers will work their way through page content.  Some will return and focus on a project on the list.  However, hawks prevail as much as hedgehogs.  In case the former want to descend on a topic, they can go directly to a topic of immediate interest. 

d

Another site aim is to do the donkey work. Included in that is the insertion of links within the original text.


Research projects

  • Neighbourhoods and Dementia                           No.5

  • Promoting Independence in Dementia (PRIDE)   No. 6
  • Managing Agitation and Raising Quality of Life    No. 7

  • A publicly available tool to help meet the future needs of dementia patients and their carers   No. 8

  • Living well with Dementia  No. 9

  • Seeing what they see       No. 10

Tackling the challenges of dementia

11 December 2013


1

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is pleased to announce that, along with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) it's awarding £20 million to six research projects which will significantly add to our understanding of dementia. Amongst other things, the research will look at how we can better prevent dementia, and improve the quality of life of those with dementia and their carers.

2

There are currently 44 million people in the world living with dementia, and by 2050 this number is set to treble to 135 million. Following on from last year's announcement by Prime Minister David Cameron of plans to tackle the 'national crisis' posed by dementia, this week ministers, researchers, pharmaceutical companies and charities are gathering in London for the G8 dementia summit. The summit aims to agree what can be done to stimulate greater investment and innovation in dementia research.

3

"Dementia is a major challenge for our society, and it is imperative to develop an understanding of the needs of those with dementia, their families and the communities they live in," ESRC Chief Executive Paul Boyle commented.

4

"These six funded projects will provide much-needed evidence for changes in future health and social care policy, as well as practical guidance for charities and third sector organisations working with sufferers of dementia," he added.

5

The first study, 'Neighbourhoods and Dementia,' will focus on the local neighbourhoods and networks in which people with dementia and their carers live. The study will explore what makes a dementia friendly neighbourhood.

," says lead researcher Professor John Keady from the University of Manchester.

6

Another study, 'Promoting Independence in Dementia (PRIDE)', aims to identify how social and lifestyle changes may help reduce the risk of developing dementia and disability. The researchers, led by Professor Martin Orrell at University College London, will develop and evaluate an effective social intervention to support independence and quality of life for people with early stage dementia and their carers.

7

A third study, 'Managing Agitation and Raising Quality of Life' aims to increase knowledge of agitation, a distressing symptom of dementia. Agitation occurs in about 50 per cent of people with moderate or severe dementia. The symptoms, which signify unmet need, include restlessness, pacing, shouting or even verbal or physical aggression. The research team, led by Professor Gillian Livingston at University College London, will develop, test and implement a manual to train staff about how best to reduce agitation and improve quality of life in care homes.

8

Professor Martin Knapp at the London School of Economics and Political Science will lead another study, which will develop a publicly available tool to help meet the future needs of dementia patients and their carers. A model will be developed from this which will enable us to better predict the future costs of dementia.

9

The fifth study, 'Living well with Dementia', is being led by Professor Linda Clare from Bangor University. The study will identify what helps people to live well, or makes it difficult to live well in the context of having dementia or caring for a person with dementia. Factors that may allow people to live well include the assets and resources they have available, and the support they get from other people in their network.

10

Alzheimers disease is often seen as a disorder solely of memory, however the disease also affects the visual areas of the brain leading to problems seeing what and where things are. The final study, 'Seeing what they see,' led by Dr Sebastian Crutch from University College London, will investigate the effects of visual aids on the wellbeing and quality of life of both patients with dementia and carers.


Tackling the challenges of dementia source    NHS here


The links



Preamble links

a   There is an abundance of quotations from the ESRC page - Tackling the challenges of dementia. here here

b   This site's aim of converting Internet hawks to hedgehogs here

c   Another site aim is to do the donkey work. No. 3.1 here


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