NHS staff in Worcestershire involved in study to help people living with dementia

Members of Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust’s Early Intervention Dementia Service were involved with the launch of a new study aiming to reduce stigma and uncertainty around dementia and promote best practice to enable people to live well with dementia.

Anna Buckell, clinical psychologist for Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, said:

“There are more than 8,000 people living with dementia in Worcestershire, including about 400 younger people. Developing dementia could happen to a significant number of us. Most types of dementia can't be cured, which is why it is so important to enable people with dementia to live well with the condition.

“The suite of papers are innovative in drawing together recent research, clinical practice experience and the perspective of people with dementia and their family members to provide best practice recommendations to professionals working in the early stages of dementia care, particularly around assessment, diagnosis and early stage support.”

The Clinical Psychology in Early Stage Dementia Care Pathway and A Guide to Psychosocial Interventions in Dementia were developed by the Faculty of Psychology for Older People in collaboration with people living with dementia, voluntary organisations and a range of experts including staff from the trust.

The papers highlight the importance of personalised pre-assessment counselling, skilful cognitive assessment, sympathetic communication of the diagnosis and appropriate post diagnostic support and access to relevant psychosocial interventions.

By intervening early in the illness before cognitive deficits affect mental capacity, the service encourages patient choice and autonomy, helping the individual and their family adapt to the illness and start making plans for the future.

The documents can be downloaded by visiting shop.bps.org.uk or www.psige.org.uk.

For more information on dementia, visit www.nhs.uk/Conditions/dementia-guide.