Later life care can be both daunting to navigate and costly. But don’t put things off. It’s wise to both plan ahead and take some expert advice.

None of us want to think about the care we or our loved ones might need in later life. But it’s wise to consider all options now and how you might fund it, says Dr Samantha Roberts, Managing Director, Health & Care Division, Legal & General.

“It’s well-known that society is living longer,” she says. “In fact, the number of over 85s will double by 2040. But what’s less well-known is that we are living in relatively poor-quality health for longer, too, which means more formal care services will be required in the years ahead.”

The trouble is, the need for these services usually arrives at a time of crisis in our lives — for example, when an elderly relative has a fall or when their function suddenly declines. At that point, it can be daunting to discover just how disconnected later life care can be from the services we’re more familiar with, such as the NHS.

“There are two big differences between the NHS and later life care,” says Dr Roberts. “The first is that the NHS is free at the point of delivery. Care, however, is means tested, so if a person’s assets are valued below a certain level, currently £23,250 in England (although that’s under review), then their local authority will contribute towards the cost of care. If their assets are above that level, then they’ll be required to pay the costs themselves.

The number of over 85s will double by 2040. But what’s less well-known is that we are living in relatively poor-quality health for longer.

Getting expert financial advice

The second difference is that, in the NHS, your GP is there to help you navigate around the system. “But that doesn’t happen with care,” says Dr Roberts. “There’s often a lot of legwork you’ll need to do. For instance, does the person needs home care, home adaptations, residential care or specialist nursing care tailored for people living with dementia? If it’s residential, then where? How will it be paid for? You’ll often need to create the pathway yourself.”

Dr Roberts advises that whilst there are many websites available with lots of useful information, actually that in itself can be overwhelming for those trying to navigate the later life care landscape.

That’s where financial advice comes in. A financial adviser can help you understand the types of benefits available, and help you understand your options. “Whether it’s non-regulated guidance through helplines, regulated advice through expert financial advisers, or a bit of both as you go through your care journey – seeking support is so important to do,” says Dr Roberts. “After all, it’s estimated that one in four people in a care home will run out of money. That can have a hugely destructive effect on their lives at a particularly fraught time.”

Whether you’re planning ahead or need help or guidance now, Legal & General’s Care Concierge service can help – and even offer a free initial 15 minute consultation.
Call free on 0808 196 7817
(Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm – We may record and monitor calls)
Or visit legalandgeneral.com/findingcare 

The post Why you need to understand the complex landscape of later life care appeared first on Health Awareness.

When we think about improving our health, are we thinking about the benefits for our brains as well as the rest of our bodies? 

As well as the profound emotional impact that dementia has on the people affected and their loved ones, this devastating condition also has a huge economic burden on our society, with current costs for the UK estimated to be around £26 billion. This cost is expected to more than double in the next 25 years to £55 billion in 2040.

Despite being one of the main causes of death and a major health condition affecting nearly a million people in the UK, there is still much misunderstanding about dementia.

This includes the myth that dementia is an inevitable part of getting older rather than something caused by physical diseases such as Alzheimer’s. 

Currently only one in three people (33%) recognise that there is anything they can do to lower their risk. This means we still need to do a lot of work to overcome this perception, and ultimately, to reduce the number of people developing dementia in the future.

Despite being one of the main causes of death and a major health condition affecting nearly a million people in the UK, there is still much misunderstanding about dementia.

Improving your brain health

Through research, we’ve learnt a lot about the things that increase our likelihood of developing dementia. Some of these, like our age and genetics, we can’t change, but up to 40% cases of dementia are linked to factors we may be able to influence ourselves – some of them through relatively simple changes to the way we live.

This is why we have developed our Think Brain Health e-learning for our partners, to educate their staff about dementia and empower them with the knowledge they need to reduce their risk of developing the condition. 

Increased education and awareness 

Building on our Think Brain Health campaign, this e-learning covers the importance of healthy behaviours such as cutting out smoking, being physically active and eating a balanced diet. As well as the physical side of things, it also highlights the important role that social connections and keeping our brains active play in keeping our brains healthier for longer. 

We’re indebted to the companies we work with who are helping these messages reach a wider audience. For example, Legal & General have been supporting our awareness campaigns such as #ShareTheOrange for many years and have been rolling out the e-learning with their employees.

The course is available in two formats: a 60-minute CPD accredited version and a 20-minute bite-size version and we want to work with more companies across the country to raise awareness about dementia and brain health. 

The post Growing old without dementia: what people can do to improve their brain health appeared first on Health Awareness.

Helen Green talks through some of the key questions she receives around Alzheimer’s disease, which is still the most common subtype of dementia but still so widely misunderstood.    

What is the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia?  

Dementia is the umbrella term for a range of different conditions which affect the functioning of the brain – Alzheimer’s disease is one of these.  Alzheimer’s differs from some other forms of dementia in the way it affects the function and structure of the brain in all areas, due to shrinkage, changes to the ways in which chemicals behave, and the build-up of proteins. 

Is there a test for Alzheimer’s?  

There is not one single definitive test for Alzheimer’s disease – the diagnosis is based on a combination of tests and assessments. You can picture it as building a large jigsaw puzzle from lots of small pieces. A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is based on the progression of symptoms, clinical tests, cognitive functioning tests, physical health checks and a reliable history from the person or a family member.

Does it affect men and women differently? 

It is estimated that there are twice as many women as men affected by Alzheimer’s disease and the rate at which the illness progresses tends to be faster in females. It is known that females tend to live longer than males and that age is a risk factor for dementia. It is also suspected that the female hormone, oestrogen, may be a factor but the reasons why remain unclear.  

Research suggests that other risk factors such as heart problems and depression are more prevalent in females and so increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. However, at this time there is insufficient evidence to provide a clear answer.  

Is Alzheimer’s disease genetic?  

In general terms the answer is no. When there is a high prevalence of dementia in a family it tends to be down to similar lifestyle choices or other physical health issues that increase the risk. There are however some exceptionally rare forms of Alzheimer’s disease where there is a direct genetic link and affects people under the age of 60. 

How long does someone live for when they have Alzheimer’s disease? 

There is no way of predicting life expectancy for someone who is living with this condition due to the varying factors that affect the progression of dementia. Each person’s experience of living with dementia is unique.

(Article originally appeared on the Dementia UK website Did you know that Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia? – Dementia UK) 

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Careful colour choice can play a surprisingly significant part in making life easier and safer for people with dementia.

Colour, used with care, can help to improve the lives of people with dementia. An interior colour scheme informed by dementia awareness can reduce the chances of falls and accidents, cut distressing navigation problems, improve accessibility and provide a beautiful and comfortable environment. It can even save money.

Jemma Saunders, in-house Colour Consultant at Crown Paints, works with architects, designers and architectural specifiers to create more dementia-friendly environments in buildings such as care homes and hospitals.

Changes in light responses

Saunders says: “Around 95% of people with dementia in the UK are 65+, when the pupil usually becomes less responsive to changes in light conditions. Thus, older people need more light to see comfortably and are more sensitive to glare or dramatic dark/light changes.”

Colour vision declines, so colours can appear faded and less vibrant. Contrast is less noticeable, which can affect depth perception and increase the risk of falls.

Dementia can create difficulty with depth perception, spatial orientation and judging colour contrast, which may cause disorientation, bumping into things, falls and injuries. Memory problems can also lead to getting lost or disoriented.

Colour considerations

“Choosing appropriate colours for floors, walls, doors and frames, and furnishings can help people with dementia navigate around a space more easily and safely and reduce disorientation and confusion,” says Saunders, who is part of the Crown Paints Colour Service team providing free bespoke and general advice to architects, designers and specifiers working on larger communal projects. Saunders also co-wrote its Interior Colour book, which includes scientifically based advice about colour use in spaces used by people with dementia and autism.

Reduced perception of colour vibrancy means richer, warm tones better suit the ageing eye. Warmer colours such and reds and oranges are more prominent than blue and green hues. If blues are used, brighter blues are better.

Contrasting tones of high-intensity colours can help differentiate walls and floors, highlight doorways (especially to toilets), handrails and furniture. Doors to off-limits areas such as stores can be camouflaged by painting them the same colour as the wall.

Feature walls can be used to highlight a change in direction and are most effective when they contrast tonally at least 20 points with the main wall colour. Contrasting colours can help highlight kitchen surfaces, toilet seats, taps and stairs.

“These kinds of colour schemes can help reduce disorientation, distress and accidents, which as well as leading to injuries, can increase costs for care homes and the NHS,” says Saunders. “Helping people move around more easily can also increase their confidence and sense of wellbeing.” Light levels should be high and signage should be highlighted.

Low-contrast colour schemes, using subtler colours, such as white walls with cream carpets and white paintwork, can make features such as doorways hard to distinguish. Shadows, glare and glossy, highly reflective surfaces can distort spatial boundaries and strong geometric patterns can distort space.

Holistic approach

Colour is only one part of a holistic approach. “It’s not just about paint colours, but also about furnishing materials, maximising natural lighting, plants, and other factors so that all work together to create a cohesive environment,” says Saunders.

“The approach is not limited to communal spaces,” she adds. “These ideas could equally well be used by people in their own homes.”

Meanwhile she says: “I want to increase awareness of the benefits of colour in creating inclusion, by making our colour consultation and specification services more easily available to architects, designers and specifiers. It can be part of their continuous professional development (CPD), while helping them make life easier for millions of people.”

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People living with dementia can see their quality of life and relationships improve through reminiscing about important personal events from the past.

Reminiscence can have huge value in enhancing the wellbeing of people living with dementia. Reflecting on and sharing life events can improve their quality of life and relationships.

Assumpta Ryan, Professor of Ageing and Health at Ulster University, says: “When people are first diagnosed with dementia, often all they think about is what they may lose – the ability to work, drive, or remember people and things that are important to them.

“Their short-term memory may be impacted but they are often able to remember events that happened in the past. This opens up opportunities for conversations and relationships to be sustained and new relationships to be developed.”

Trigger needed for memories

Opening up these memories, however, often requires a trigger. Technology is helping achieve that with a reminiscence app developed by Ulster University in partnership with Dementia NI and Scaffold Digital. The app called Inspired (Individual Special Reminiscences in Dementia) builds on research looking at the impact of a personalised approach to reminiscence.

The use of photographs, music or video clips to start conversations about meaningful life events form the basis of the app, which was trialled on 30 people living with dementia and their family carers.

“We looked at how close people felt to one another and measured the quality of their relationship and their emotional wellbeing,” says Professor Ryan.

“We found that the relationship between people living with dementia and their carers improved while using the app.

Recollecting life events

The idea of the app is to encourage people to think of important life events, such as a family celebration, and upload photographs and music from that event. In addition, there is the novel option to add text or voice notes to enhance the memory.

“Tapping into those memories through photographs or music can promote conversations and have real and meaningful benefits for people living with dementia and for their carers,” says Professor Ryan.

Every aspect of the free app – usable on Apple and Android mobile phones and devices was designed in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society and more recently with Dementia NI, a charity in Northern Ireland whose members live with a diagnosis of dementia.

“We are grateful to the Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Board, the Atlantic Philanthropies and the Public Health Agency Research and Development Division for funding our research.”

The post New app research has found a way to support those living with dementia appeared first on Health Awareness.

Daniel Berman

Director of Global Health, Nesta Challenges

COVID-19 has had a huge impact on people living with dementia – they have been amongst the worst affected by the pandemic. However, can this devastating crisis lead to a breakthrough in dementia care?

While the focus over the past 18 months has rightly been on tackling the COVID-19 pandemic that has destroyed and disrupted lives around the world, another global health crisis has continued to gather momentum in the background – dementia. 

In many countries, people with dementia have been amongst the worst affected by the pandemic and lockdown restrictions have led to higher levels of social isolation and loneliness. This has caused irreversible deterioration in people with dementia – with many losing the ability to walk, speak or eat. 

We need a transformative breakthrough in dementia care that future generations may come to view as a silver lining of the pandemic.

A global health crisis

Today, there are 54 million people living with dementia globally, and by 2050 this is expected to soar to 130 million. In low and middle-income countries, the diagnosis rate can be as low as 10%, of particular concern given that By 2030, 63% of people with dementia will be in developing countries. 

Despite progress, we don’t yet have widely available treatments to halt the progression of dementia – but importantly cutting-edge innovation does have the power to improve the lives of people living with dementia now.

Alzheimer’s Society and Nesta Challenges have teamed up to explore the potential of a multi-million-pound challenge prize designed to stimulate this innovation. We are proud to already be supported by partners including Sir Tom Hunter (The Hunter Foundation). 

A high profile prize would incentivise the creation of personalised, technology-based tools that are co-created with people living with the early stages of dementia.

State of independence

We believe there is great potential for easy-to-use innovations that utilise the latest advances in technology, from artificial intelligence to machine learning and adapt intelligently to the person’s changing needs over time.

Crisis as catalyst

For the sake of the millions of people living with dementia now and the millions more who will be living with it by 2050, we need a transformative breakthrough in dementia care that future generations may come to view as a silver lining of the pandemic.

It is our sincere belief that technological innovation will be at the heart of unleashing this breakthrough. 

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Recent developments could pave the way for a new generation of dementia treatments, but investment is critical to make this a reality.

This year has seen the first new Alzheimer’s treatment in nearly 20 years approved for use in the US. Before too long, we will know whether the drug, aducanumab, will be approved for use here in the UK. 

While there is still debate about the benefits aducanumab provides, and the drug is not suitable for everyone with dementia, this was still a pivotal moment. It showed we can change the way Alzheimer’s, the most common cause of dementia, is treated. That could pave the way for a new generation of treatments that are so desperately needed by people living with all forms of dementia.

Dementia research is at a tipping point – but we must act if we are to capitalise on this moment. 

Alzheimer’s starts many years before symptoms become apparent, so early detection is vital.

Focused investment is key

To refocus efforts and ensure a continued supply of treatments through the drug discovery pipeline, investment is critical. It’s now nearly two years since the UK government’s election pledge to double funding for dementia research to £160 million a year. However, this investment has yet to materialise and there is no plan for how the promised funding would be targeted.

Aducanumab, like many Alzheimer’s treatments in trials today, is designed to be given early in the disease before irreversible damage has been caused. But Alzheimer’s starts many years before symptoms become apparent, so early detection is vital.

Alzheimer’s Research UK is already leading an ambitious initiative to revolutionise our ability to identify diseases like Alzheimer’s 10-15 years before we can today. Investment directed towards early detection could transform future research, improving our understanding of these diseases and allowing new treatments to be tested earlier.

Lessons from the pandemic

The past year has shown what we can achieve when we focus energy and resources on a major worldwide challenge. Dementia is our greatest long-term global medical challenge – and as with COVID-19, research holds the potential to save millions from future devastation. The UK’s Vaccines Taskforce is recognised globally for accelerating vaccine development and offers an ambitious model for UK leadership of dementia drug discovery. 

Our latest Dementia Attitudes Monitor has shown a sharp increase since 2018 in the public’s willingness to get involved in medical research for dementia, with one in 10 citing the pandemic as having shown the value of medical research. As a charity, we’ve helped more people than ever this year to get involved in dementia research – but they need studies to take part in. 

Now is a critical moment and we must grasp this opportunity to move closer to a world free from the fear, harm and heartbreak of dementia.

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Caring for a loved one who has dementia can come with its challenges. However, there are some small things you can do that might make life a bit easier.

It can start with small jobs – doing their shopping, picking up medication – and over time it becomes more intensive as they require more support. There can be so many practical things to consider, including when to get professional help. On top of the practicalities, a loved one’s altered emotional and mental state can make it feel like there’s a huge amount to shoulder. 

Don’t delay – talk now

It’s important to open up conversations around plans for the future, so speak to the person you care for about what they really need as early as possible. Avoid putting off these conversations until there’s a crisis; if you act now, you can avoid making life-changing decisions under pressure. In addition, your relative may no longer have the ability to express their wishes if they have lost mental capacity.

Caring for someone with dementia can feel lonely at times and it’s important to know that you’re not alone.

Plan ahead

Getting organised can help take the stress out of managing someone’s affairs, whether that’s getting their utilities sorted or ensuring their wishes are met in the long run. Check out Carers UK’s factsheets on dealing with services and considering options like power of attorney or deputyship.

Reach out for support

Caring for someone with dementia can feel lonely at times and it’s important to know that you’re not alone. The Carers UK forum is a supportive online community of carers who understand the ups and downs of caring. Carers can also join other carers for an informal chat at our Care for a Cuppa online sessions, or take part in a stimulating Share and Learn session. Sharing an experience or a problem with a fellow carer can make a world of difference. 

Take a break

Looking after someone with dementia can be demanding, requiring a lot of time and energy, so it’s important to take time out to recharge. Sometimes it’s easier said than done but finding time for yourself – even 10 minutes of an afternoon – to do something you enjoy doing can leave you feeling more refreshed. You could ask friends or family for some support or find out if there is a local service, such as a sitting service or day centre, that could help you on a regular basis. 

The post Ways to cope when you’re looking after a loved one with dementia appeared first on Health Awareness.

Dorothy Liviabella

Head of Vulnerable Customer Strategy, Santander UK

People living with dementia can face various challenges with banking and may worry about staying financially independent. Dementia-friendly banking services are there to help.

There’s an emotional side to money and banking that, ordinarily, we don’t think about. Yet financial independence is central to all our lives because it puts us in control. If you are living with dementia, however, and starting to become confused about money or banking, you may feel as though that control is slipping away. This can be devastating for your wellbeing and self-esteem.

“Many people affected by dementia — people living with the condition, their carers and family members — tell us they have concerns around banking,” says Sam Cox, Knowledge Officer, Alzheimer’s Society. “They may be worried about remembering PINs and security details, falling victim to scams, or having challenges using ATMs. On top of this, people with dementia have been hit hardest by the pandemic, with relatives telling us they have seen an increase in their loved one’s symptoms because of lockdown isolation. People need support now more than ever.”

Creating dementia-friendly initiatives

Since 2019, Alzheimer’s Society has been working with Santander UK to help make its culture and banking services dementia friendly. Two Alzheimer’s Society colleagues have even been seconded to the bank to act as an in-house sounding board. “Partnerships like this help educate us about the needs of people affected by dementia, who may be more vulnerable,” reveals Dorothy Liviabella, Head of Vulnerable Customer Strategy, Santander. “It’s been hugely beneficial to have expert insight from Alzheimer’s Society embedded in our organisation.”

It’s led to various service and product improvements to help those affected by dementia. Some are simple, but effective: “If someone lets us know about a condition they’re experiencing, like dementia, we can put a support note on their customer profile,” says Liviabella. “This tells all colleagues — wherever they are in the bank — what sort of support they might require, such as needing extra time to collect their thoughts, or that they have trouble remembering PINs. That’s why we’re encouraging all customers affected by dementia to let us know so we can put the right support in place for them.”

Retaining independence while feeling protected

The bank offers a range of Supported Banking options to ensure customers can put the right amount of support in place at the right time, to help them maintain their independence. The Carer’s Card allows a customer to give a trusted third party a card of their own, to help with things like withdrawing cash and shopping. Third Party Access can be arranged, to give the customer more support with day-to-day banking whilst retaining control. A Power of Attorney can also be appointed so that plans are in place for when the customer may lose the ability to manage their bank account themselves later down the line.

Over 54% of Santander UK’s colleagues became Dementia Friends in 2020, an Alzheimer’s Society awareness programme that is the biggest ever initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia, changing the way people think, act and talk about the condition. Key colleagues also received specialist Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Ambassadors training. “Ultimately, we want people living with dementia to remain independent for as long as possible, while feeling protected, supported and confident that they are dealing with a dementia-friendly organisation,” says Liviabella.

One customer and his wife recently revealed that their lives had changed dramatically after he was diagnosed with early onset dementia. She has since become his carer as well as a partner and they have felt extremely isolated. We created a joint account for them and told the Department for Work and Pensions about the new account so that his pension could be credited correctly. Both customers were overwhelmed that we could put a support note on his profile and were amazed by our dementia-friendly services.

Laura Bull, Santander Branch Director

Santander UK plc. Registered Office: 2 Triton Square, Regent’s Place, London, NW1 3AN, United Kingdom. Registered Number 2294747. Registered in England and Wales. www.santander.co.uk. Telephone 0800 389 7000. Santander and the flame logo are registered trademarks. Copyright © Santander UK plc. All rights reserved.

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Forgetfulness and memory loss, even when mild, must be taken more seriously.

These symptoms shouldn’t be accepted as just a normal part of ageing. Our research will find novel ways to measure the earliest signs of degeneration in the brain so it can be halted and treated before it’s too late.

Diagnosing problems early

Early warning systems have saved countless lives; from ocean monitoring to alert for a tsunami, to a cholesterol test to prevent future heart disease. So, what early signs can we look for in the brain as we age? This is the main question if we want to stop Alzheimer’s disease early in its tracks.

The truth is that reversing brain damage is difficult. We need to revolutionise our approach and get ahead of the problem. That’s why our 600 researchers at the UK Dementia Research Institute are united by one mission: to build a future where we’re able to identify and treat problems early, some 20-30 years before symptoms arise.

The truth is that reversing brain damage is difficult. We need to revolutionise our approach and get ahead of the problem.

Using blood and scans for brain insight 

We are finding ‘red flags’ – called biomarkers – in blood and spinal fluid that we can use to detect the onset and progression of disease. Our institute has expertise and equipment in ultrasensitive brain imaging to visualise changes in the brain. This allows us to create functional maps to determine when and how changes in individual cells or even whole circuits arise in the brain and how they might be corrected. Next, we need to develop similar tools to observe brain activity in real time when it is challenged by puzzles.

Powering the race to cures

Dementia rates are sadly very high, but with the right support I have never been more confident that new solutions are within reach. 

We’re inspired by the cancer research community and what can be achieved with a strong workforce and funding. It’s time for the same approach to dementia. Although today it is our biggest health challenge, it doesn’t have to be that way. A future without dementia is possible—the first light is appearing on the horizon.

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