Government announces next steps on Dementia Challenge
Alongside the publication of the Dementia Challenge progress report, and the launch of the Dementia Friends programme, the government has announced a number of measures as part of the next phase of the Dementia Challenge.
These include:
£9.6 million for dementia research
This is to fund the expansion of the UK Biobank, which already holds biological data from 500,000 individuals aged 40-69 years. This expansion will include 8,000 brain scans to help scientists discover why some people develop dementia and others do not.
Extra support for GPs on dementia
This is to better equip them to spot and diagnose dementia, and to help people with dementia and their carers to manage the condition. There will be a dementia toolkit for surgeries, and a requirement on health care professionals to ask patients aged between 65 and 74 about their memory as part of every standard health check.
Pilot with schools and youth projects
This ambitious pilot will help young people across the country become dementia aware, helping students understand more about the condition. The aim is for the pilot to be expanded into a nationwide programme.
£1 million prize fund for ways to increase diagnosis
Funding will be awarded to NHS organisations that find groundbreaking ways to drastically reduce the number of people with dementia who are undiagnosed by health care professionals.
A £50 million fund for environments designed for people with dementia
This funding is to create areas in care homes and hospitals that help to reduce anxiety and distress in people with dementia, and help them feel safe.
A commitment on information for people diagnosed with dementia
Every person diagnosed with dementia will be able to obtain** **detailed information on services and support, as part of the Our Health online service directories, which currently covers the South West of England and will be rolled out across England by the end of March 2013.
42 organisations signed up to the Dementia Care and Support Compact
The 42 signatories to the compact represent 1,800 care services committing to standards of care and treatment for people with dementia.
Find out more about these and other initiatives and achievements on the Dementia Challenge website.