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Avenues launches new Dementia Support Service
6 September 2011
Dementia Development Manager at Avenues, Lesley Knight says: "It's a fact that dementia is on the increase; while dementia is not a natural part of ageing, as the population gets older and people live longer the rate of dementia increases."
The service is aimed at people who are isolated, who may not have the confidence to go out, or are worried that they are losing the ability to manage on their own. We believe it is important that people with dementia retain as much independence as possible, that they are encouraged to maintain their life skills and that they are not excluded from their communities.
Avenues’ personalised and positive approach to the people we support will be the key to how we will operate our service differently. “It’s not just the person with dementia that needs the support; families and carers need support too and we will offer respite visits as part of the service. Our staff are fully trained in all aspects of dementia care and we hope that this will offer people with dementia, and their carers, a positive opportunity to remain as independent as possible in their own communities.”
For more information about the new service call 0800 292 2762 or download our leaflet
Dementia – the facts:
Dementia is a term used to describe various different brain disorders that have in common a loss of brain function that is usually progressive and eventually severe. There are many types of dementia. The most common are Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies.
- There are about 750,000 people in the UK who have been diagnosed with dementia; While not a natural part of the aging process, for people 85 and over, 25 out of 100 will have dementia
- Dementia mainly affects people over the age of 65 and the likelihood increases with age. However, it can affect younger people: there are over 16,000 people in the UK under the age of 65 who have dementia
- Dementia can affect men and women
- It is the fourth biggest cause of death in older people
- Some people can live up to 20 years after they show signs of Alzheimer's disease. But the average number of years they live for is eight
- 50% of people with Downs Syndrome will go on to develop dementia.
Symptoms of dementia can include loss of memory, confusion, difficulties with thinking and planning, and problems with speech and understanding. In its later stages dementia symptoms can become more severe with the loss of communication skills, severe cognitive impairment and challenging behaviour.
