Work to redevelop a Devon County Council residential care home in Newton Abbot into a modern, state-of-the-art centre of excellence for people with dementia has finished two weeks ahead of schedule.
Mapleton was developed in partnership with the University of Stirling Dementia Centre, which is nationally recognised for setting the standards for dementia-friendly buildings. Devon-based Midas was in charge of the construction and building work.
The £1.5 million project, which started in July 2013, included major alterations and an extension to the care home, parts of which...
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a substantially increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in older people, according to the most robust study of its kind ever conducted.
An international team, led by Dr David Llewellyn at the University of Exeter Medical School, found that study participants who were severely Vitamin D deficient were more than twice as likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
The team studied elderly Americans who took part in the Cardiovascular Health Study. They discovered that adults in the study who were moderately deficient...
‘An unexpectedly affecting film’ – The Times ‘A complex, oddly moving portrait’ – The Guardian ‘Poignant and compelling’ - Bizarre
Exeter University filmmaker Toby Amies presents The Man Whose Mind Exploded Picturehouse Cinema, Exeter, July 1, 6.30pm
When you can’t remember yesterday, why worry about tomorrow? The only time that matters is the present.
For Drako Zarharzar, a landmark eccentric on the Brighton scene – so well-known that you could find him on Google Maps - the philosophy of the now was a way of coping with the ‘broken recorder’ in his brain.
This week, the residents at Angela Court Nursing Home had a wonderful visit from Archie the dog. Archie is a beautiful black ‘Heinz 57’ who is more than happy to receive cuddles and strokes from the residents and staff. His calm temperament means that he loves spending time with people and was a huge hit with everyone at the home.
Using animals as therapy for those living with dementia is a very important activity, research shows that having animals around can have several beneficial results - animals can improve mood and behaviours as well as providing a calming influence. The...
Alzheimer’s Society is this week launching brand new resources aimed at helping even more businesses and organisations to become dementia friendly.
A video which charts a day in the life of someone living with dementia and the challenges they face doing everyday tasks, such as going to the bank or shops, and aims to help people in customer facing roles understand how they can best support someone with dementia when they meet them.
This new tool is launched in the same month that Alzheimer’s Society launches the first Dementia Friendly Awards, sponsored by Lloyds Banking...
South West businesses, universities and local authorities are just a few of the organisations who have joined forces to raise awareness of Dementia and to improve the lives of those living with the disorder.
Some of the good work includes setting up cafes, singing and activity groups, becoming a Dementia Action Alliance, attending Dementia Friends awareness sessions and much more.
Organisations have rushed to become involved in raising awareness of Dementia since the Prime Minister's national challenge on Dementia two years ago.
South West High streets are set to become ‘dementia friendly’ as several major retailers commit to offering their staff training to help those with the condition. The initiative launched by the Alzhiemer’s society will see staff at 60 Homebase and Argos stores as well as some branches of Marks and Spencer and Lloyds bank train to become ‘Dementia Friends’ who help people with dementia live more independently. Between them, they have committed to create over 121,500 Dementia Friends in shops and banks across the UK. Angie Newing, Regional Director for Alzheimer’s Society in the South West,...
Access 21 Care Interiors who work exclusively for the care sector on all types of schemes across the UK , has been appointed to the growing network of champions of Dementia Friendly Surrey. Created in support of the Prime Minister’s Dementia Challenge, the partnership project aims to develop dementia friendly communities where people with dementia, their families and carers are understood, valued and can enjoy life.
The project advocated by Surrey County Council and three of Surrey’s Clinical Commissioning Groups, focus on the main areas for action: driving improvements in health...
Scientists may have taken the first steps in finding a treatment for conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. A study published in the journal Science Transitional Medicine claimed that researchers had managed to halt brain cell death in mice. Although potentially decades from a human application the study indicates that medicine which halts brain cell death is in the realms of possibility. The scientists induced a neurodegenerative condition in the mice using abnormal prion proteins which produces an approximation of human neurodegenerative disorders.
Neil Parish, MP for Tiverton and Honiton, has pledged to take action to support the 800,000 people living with dementia across the UK. Neil Parish joined 200 other MPs and representatives from Alzheimer’s Society in Portcullis House, Westminster on Tuesday 10th September to provide a handwritten statement of the action they will take to support people with dementia and their carers. Neil Parish pledged to help tackle the stigma attached to dementia and raise awareness to improve diagnosis rates in their constituency. Neil Parish said: “Devon is a beautiful county and many elderly people...
