Improving lives of dementia sufferers (From Worcester News)

Improving lives of dementia sufferers

11:40pm Monday 12th April 2010 in Local By James Connell

DEMENTIA CARE: Professor Dawn Brooker gave lecture.

THE lives of people living with dementia and their families could be improved now that a new association has been officially launched in Worcester.

The vision of the Association for Dementia Studies (ADS) is to become a national and international centre of excellence in training, education and research in dementia studies.

It is hoped its work will also help to eradicate the stigma attached to dementia, ensure adequate care and support is on offer to people here in Worcestershire and further afield, and have an influential role in forming government policy.

The association is a partnership between the University of Worcester, Worcestershire County Council, NHS Worcestershire, Worcestershire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust and the national charity Dementia UK. It was officially launched during a conference at the university, which was followed by the inaugural professorial lecture of Dawn Brooker, director of the association and professor of dementia studies.

Eddie Clarke, Worcestershire County Council’s director of adult and community services, said: “Professor Dawn Brooker is internationally renowned in the field of dementia care. Her work in connecting research with practice in Worcestershire in collaboration with people with dementia, family carers, and professionals will be of great benefit to us in further developing quality care for the growing number of people diagnosed with dementia in the county and indeed the wider West Midlands region.”

Professor Brooker, who lives in Malvern and has worked in a variety of clinical, academic and managerial posts in services for older people for more than 25 years, said: “My vision for the association is that it will work in union with care providers, commissioners, national charities and government agencies in the field of health and social care to improve the lives of those living with dementia.”

The association has been developed in the wake of the National Dementia Strategy, launched by the Department of Health.

Professor Brooker said: “The development of the association will have direct benefits to the county’s dementia care and support services. The association can provide training to direct care staff and professional development to those in leadership positions.”

• For more information visit the Dementia UK website here.