Better Health For All

Last week marked the end of the fifth global World Alzheimer’s Month. It gave us all a chance to reflect on the importance of this international campaign to raise awareness and challenge the stigma that surrounds dementia.

The theme for World Alzheimer’s Month 2016 was Remember Me. Alzheimer’s Disease International asked people to get involved by sharing their favourite memories, or memories of a loved one, on social media with the hashtags #RememberMe and #WAM2016.

Alzheimer associations in more than 60 countries took part in this year’s campaign, raising awareness, and advancing action to make dementia more understood.
FPH members, as part of the leading professional body for public health specialist in the UK, provide sterling service at local and national levels, promoting effective preventative measures to reduce the risk of people developing dementia, and advocating for a more dementia friendly society.

Below is just one example of that work.

Claire Beynon, Registrar and Chair of Specialty Registrars Committee – Dementia Health

Needs Assessment for Cardiff and Vale
Dementia in Cardiff and Vale
Currently in Cardiff and Vale there are estimated to be approximately 5,500 people with dementia, about half of whom have a diagnosis.  Due to a growing and ageing population by 2025 this is expected to rise to nearly 7,000 people living with dementia.  Timely diagnosis can slow the progression of dementia and help individuals identify sources of support.
How has Cardiff and Vale promoted World Alzheimer’s month?
Cardiff and Vale have been running a campaign on social media and have produced three patient stories that have proved popular, see the website for the stories. http://www.cardiffandvaleuhb.wales.nhs.uk/caring-for-someone-with-dementia
So how does my work fit into this?
By undertaking a health needs assessment I hope to raise the profile of unmet health needs in the local area.
One in five cases of dementia may be preventable with exercise, diet, diabetes prevention, and early treatment of depression so we need to consider how we can move more focus towards prevention.  The Welsh Government recently produced a guide on how to reduce your risk in six steps.

http://gov.wales/docs/change4life/publications/150515dementiaen.pdf

Why undertake a Health Needs Assessment for Dementia now?
The Cardiff and Vale 3 Year Dementia Plan is due to end in 2016/17, and there is a need to refresh the information on which it is based and make new recommendations based on the altered circumstances.  The purpose of this Dementia Health Needs Assessment Plan is to outline the process that will be undertaken to assess the health needs of people with dementia and their carers in Cardiff and Vale.
In my role as a Specialty Registrar time I will co-ordinate the Dementia Health Needs Assessment. The needs assessment will be undertaken during the period July to December 2016.  A final report will be prepared in December 2016.