Editorial: Dementia

Abstract

DementiaDementia is a growing public health concern and has achieved a National Health Priority status in England and beyond, with the Government pledging to develop dementia-friendly communities and create 20 dementia-friendly cities by 2013, as well as more than doubling the funding for research to over £66 million by 2015. While not a consequence of ageing, the prevalence of dementia is increasing as people live longer and the proportion of older people in the population rises. By 2019, 38 per cent of the population will be aged over 50, and by 2029, this will have risen to 40 per cent. A significant proportion of this elderly population will have dementia -one in five over the age of 65.Currently, around 800,000 people in the UK have dementia and this number is expected to double in the next 30 years. Fear of getting lost or being misunderstood, and fear of not being able to access services such as shops, banks, transport and leisure activities are all reasons why people with dementia find life a challenge. For people with the condition, even simple tasks can be hazardous and therefore it is often just easier to stay at home. Falls are the subject of a current topic piece in this issue where it is recognized that unintentional injuries pose an important risk to older people. 1Public health is a multi-professional discipline and dementia a condition where all actors have a part to play from gritting pavements to improving health services. A good example of inter-professional involvement is a welcome contribution by Habell, an architect, who debates the health and behaviour benefits of the environment.2 Innovative design of internal space can be used for therapeutic advantage using movement, memory trails, behaviour cues, signage and light spectrum control. Although, as the author states, such environments are no substitute for well-trained empathizing staff, however they can be used to therapeutic advantage. As can group reading activities, which are the focus of the paper by Billington et al. 3 Here it was found that engagement in a literature based intervention could produce a significant reduction in dementia symptom severity, although it was recognized that further research is required.The growing diversity of older people with dementia is also recognized in a book by Gonzales et al, 'Dementia Care with Black and Latino Families: A social work problem solving approach'. This serves as a good introduction to cultures and context with which practitioners may be unfamiliar. Dementia in the future will touch us all, either as someone with the condition or as a carer. Services will need to be designed to achieve better awareness, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, throughout the dementia journey and in every setting. People with dementia, and their carers, increasingly require help to cope. To support people effectively, professionals will need to broaden their focus beyond traditional health and social care responses to include a much wider range of services and functions which are important to people...